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UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
LIBRARY 


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EEMINISCENCE8 


OF 


WORCESTER 


FROM  THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD, 


HISTORICAL  AND  GENEALOGICAL, 


WITH  NOTICES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS  AND  PROMINENT  CITIZENS, 

AND  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  OLD  LANDMARKS  AND  ANCIENT 

DWELLINGS,  ACCOMPANIED  BY  A  MAP  AND 

NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


By   CALEB  A.  WALL. 


WORCESTER,  MASS.: 
PjiiNTED  BY  Tyler  &  Seagrave,  442  Main  Street, 

Spy  Building,  opposite  City  Hall. 

1877. 


975" 


To  Patrons  and  Friends  : 

In  many  portions  of  this  work,  as  stated  in  the  preface,  there  doubtless 
may  be  many  errors  regarding  localities,  places  of  residence  of  early  settlers, 
reference  to  ancient  structures,  dates,  &c.,  arising  from  conflict  of  statements 
regarding  them  by  those  whose  memory  has  been  tasked  to  recall  matters 
partially  obliterated  from  their  recollection.  Any  further  information  re- 
garding matters  here  spoken  of,  or  any  correction  which  parties  may  be  in- 
terested to  make,  will  be  gladly  received,  and  is  earnestly  solicited  by  the 
author. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  Sept.  187 
By  CALEB  A.  WALL, 
In  the  OflBce  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress. 


P  R  E  F  A  C  I^  , 


The  undersigned  having  during  many  yeai'S  past  collected  together 
a  large  amount  of  material  relative  to  the  early  history  of  Worcester, 
from  various  sources,  has  taken  this  method  of  communicating  some  of 
those  facts  to  the  public.  They  are  not  all  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
regularly  connected  history,  being,  as  their  name  imports,  "  reminis- 
cences" of  particular  periods,  brought  together  under  different  heads 
or  chapters.  The  field  is  so  broad,  and  the  material  so  vast  from 
which  to  select  such  facts  as  are  of  more  permanent  interest  and  value 
to  the  public,  that  the  greatest  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  de- 
ciding what  to  omit,  and  how  so  to  condense  the  multitudinous  details 
as  to  enable  the  compiler  to  embrace  the  general  substance  of  the 
whole.  The  subjects  here  enlarged  upon,  are  but  a  few  of  those  which 
it  was  at  first  intended  to  include  in  this  publication,  and  it  was  found 
necessary  to  pass  many  of  them  over  for  some  future  opportunity. 
Should  this  volume  meet  with  favor,  it  will  be  followed  by  another,  in 
due  time,  taking  up  other  subjects,  or  enlarging  upon  other  branches 
of  the  local  history  of  the  place,  going  back  to  the  earliest  period  and 
coming  down  to  the  present  time.  For  instance,  in  the  present  num- 
ber the  history  of  the  three  oldest  churches  in  Worcester  is  given  with 
much  minuteness  of  detail,  with  the  intention  of  taking  up  the  others 
in  their  regular  order,  according  to  the  date  of  their  organization. 
The  earliest  beginnings  and  the  progress  of  manufacturing,  in  the 
different  branches  of  mechanical  industry,  are  also  subjects  which 
it  is  proposed  to  take  up,  and  this  is  a  field  of  remarkable  fertil- 
ity in  interest,  I'equiring  especially  great  labor  and  pains  taking  to 
do  it  anything  like  justice.  And  then  there  are  various  and  in- 
numerable organizations,  military,  literary,  scientific,  social,  financial, 
&c.,  &c.,  necessarily  demanding  attention,  and  affording  topics  of  lasting 
importance  and  interest  to  the  public,  to  be  properly  treated. 


iv.  Preface^ 

The  subject  of  genealogies  is  one  which  the  author  has  made  some- 
what of  a  specialty  in  this  enterprise,  and  which  he  would  make  still 
more  of  a  specialty,  should  encouragement  be  extended  for  further  in- 
vestigations in  this  regard.  In  the  present  work,  the  genealogies  of 
some  thirty  of  the  oldest  families  settling  in  Worcester,  are  given,  with 
more  or  less  of  detail,  so  far  as  facts  were  obtainable,  and  there  are 
many  others  which  it  would  be  exceedingly  interesting  to  look  up  and 
follow,  as  far  as  their  connection  with  Worcester  is  concerned.  This  is  a 
branch  of  research  of  remarkable  interest,  of  important  bearing  upon 
general  history,  which  it  so  materially  illustrates. 

Where  so  much  has  to  be  obtained  from  oral  or  traditional  sources, 
on  matters  about  which  there  may  be  conflicting  testimony,  it  is 
natural  that  there  should  be  more  or  less  of  statement  not  verified  by 
facts  subsequently  obtained.  Many  errors,  typographical  or  other- 
wise, discovered  too  late  for  correction  in  the  text,  will  be  found  pro- 
perl)'  corrected  in  the  "  emendations"  a  necessary  accompaniment  of 
almost  every  work  of  a  genealogical  or  statistical  character. 

AYhile  this  work  was  going  through  the  press,  some  changes  neces- 
sarily took  place  in  certain  matters  referred  to  in  the  text,  such  as  the 
decease  of  individuals,  the  destruction  or  removal  of  old  landmarks, 
etc.,  which  are  noticed  in  the  concluding  chapter. 

The  map  and  accompanying  illustrations  of  this  work  explain  them- 
selves. The  illustrations  of  buildings  are  not  given  according  to  their 
proportionate  size  on  the  map.  This  has  been  prepared  at  consid- 
erable expense,  by  an  experienced  artist,  under  the  special  direction 
of  the  author,  who  has  devoted  to  it  much  time  and  labor.  The  loca- 
tions of  the  earliest  settlers  are  given  as  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to 
designate  them  with  present  information.  The  earliest  traveled  roads 
and  thoroughfares  are  designated  with  the  heaviest  marked  lines,  while 
those  of  latest  construction  are  indicated  by  the  smallest  lines.  The 
dotted  lines  from  the  termination  of  the  "Jo  Bill"  road  along  the 
valley  of  Beaver  brook  to  New  Worcester  indicate  an  old  route 
conjectured  to  have  been  used  before  the  permanent  settlement  of 
the  town,  and  before  the  route  through  Main  street  to  New  Worcester 
had  been  opened,  (see  note  at  the  bottom  of  page  23.)  That  this  route 
was  ever  much  traveled  is  doubted  by  many  of  those  best  posted  on 
the  subject. 

The  author  would  close  this  brief  introduction  by  the  expression  of 
his  profound  thanks  to  the  many  friends  who  have  aided  him  in  this 
enterprise,  by  the  contribution  of  facts,  or  the  expression  of  words  of 


Preface.  \. 

encoiirao'ement.  The  sources  from  which  data  of  this  kind  must  be 
gleaned,  are  numerous,  and  almost  everybody  has  been  drawn  upon  for 
information  of  some  kind.  To  the  officers  of  various  public  bodies, 
clerks  of  different  associations,  and  others,  whose  means  of  information 
have  been  resorted  to  for  facts,  the  writer  is  particularly  indebted,  and 
hereby  returns  his  sincere  acknowledgments,  as  well  as  to  numerous 
friends  who  have  rendered  important  aid. 

The  author  presents  this  work  as  the  result  of  labors  for  many  years 
in  the  gathering  of  material,  and  trusts  that  it  may  be  received  as  hav- 
ing contributed  something  to  the  local  history  of  the  place,  in  the 
rescuing  from  oblivion  of  many  facts  and  details  which  might  other- 
wise have  been  lost  to  the  world.  It  is  not  put  forth  with  any  claim 
of  literary  merit,  but  as  a  series  of  narrations  of  simple  facts,  requiring 
more  of  labor  than  genius  to  glean  or  arrange  them.  c.  A.  w. 

Sept.,  1877. 


EMENDATIONS 


Pao;e  IG,  line  11th  from  bottom,  read  "  1715"  instead  of  "  1815." 

Page  17,  line  9th,  for  "  Daniel  and  Martha  (Sergeant)  Shattuck,"  read 
'i  Elijah  and  Sarah  (Shattuck)  Rice." 

Page  21,  line  22d,  for  "  1826,"  read  "  1846." 

Page  29,  line  26th,  for  "  Samuel,"  read  "  Stephen." 

Page  31,  line  6th,  for  "  now  lives,"  read  "  lived." 

Page  31,  line  16th,  for  "Jemima,"  read  "  Joanna." 

Page  31,  line  37th,  for  "  son,"  read  "  nephew." 

Page  31,  make  the  last  line,  read  that  Azubah  Ward  married  "  John,  son 
of  Nathaniel  Green." 

Page  32,  for  first  five  lines,  read  "  lines  20  to  25  on  page  76." 

Page  35,  line  36,  for  "  61,"  read  "  51." 

Page  36,  for  "  his,"  1st  word  in  2d  line  from  bottom,  read  "  David  Curtis." 

Page  38,  for  lines  5th  and  6th,  read  "  lived  100  rods  east  of  his  brother, 
towards  Millbury." 

Page  41,  line  19th,  for  "  Uriah,"  read  "  Russell." 

Page  43,  line  26th  for  "  cousin,"  read  "  sister." 

Page  44,  line  13th,  for  "  Nathaniel,"  read  "  Thaddeus." 

Page  45,  line  2d,  for  "  six  sons,"  read  "  five  sons,"  and  in  4th  line,  for 
"  five  sons,"  read  "  four  sons." 

Page  45,  line  3d,  for  "  a  Willington,"  read  "  Hannah  Willington." 

Page  48,  line  21st,  for  "  1795,"  read  "  1796." 

Page  49,  line  37th,  for  "  1817,"  read  "  about  1821." 


Vi.  Emendaiions. 

Page  64^  correct  a  statement  in  regard  to  the  old  '*  Compound  building." 
Tt  had  no  hall,  the  double  roof  being  added  after  its  removal.  Ex-Gov. 
AVashburn  and  others  had  their  law  offices  in  the  two-storj  building  adjoin- 
ing it  on  the  north,  erected  after  the  time  of  the  Chandlers. 

Page  70,  line  34:th^  for  "  sister,"  read  "  cousin." 

Page  72,  3d  and  4th  from  bottom,  for  "  sister,"  read  "cousin  Sarah." 

Page  73,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  give,"  read  "  given." 

Page  90,  line  15th,  for  "  Eliza,"  read  "  Elizabeth." 

Page  90,  lire  IGth,  for  "  Jan.  20,"  read  "  Jan.  29." 

Page  90,  line  22,  for  "  5d,"  read  "  2d." 

Page  90,  line  23,  for  "  now,"  read  "  deceased." 

Page  103,  for  correction  of  last  four  lines,  read  page  352. 

Page  103,  5th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  1875,"  read  "1775." 

Page  108,  line  33d,  for  "  Northern  District  of  AVorcester  County,"  read 
"  Worce.«'ter  County  District/' 

Page  111,  line  10,  for  "  Hannah,"  read  "  Mary." 

Page  IIG,  line  5th,  for  "  Elijah,"  read  "  Elisha,  Jr." 

Page  12G,  line  16th,  insert  "  Rufus  D.  Dunbar"  after  "  Emory  Perry." 

Page  143,  line  29th,  for  "  1794,"  read  "  1797." 

Page  172,  lines  12th,  13th  and  14th,  after  "west  quarter,"  read  "location 
in  Tatnuck  ;  south  quarter,  on  Pakachoag  hill,  between  Nathaniel  Moore, 
Jr.  and  Wm.  Eider's." 

Page  191,  line  29th,  insert  "  to"  before  "  1781"  :  line  21st,  read  "  in" 
instead  of  "  to." 

Page  19G,  line  2d,  for  "  from,"  read  "  in." 

Page  205,  8th  line  from  bottom,  for  correction,  read  about  Wm.  Elder  on 
page  380. 

Pag3  220,  line  23,  for  "  Tafts,"  read  "  Tufts." 

Page  229,  2d  line  in  list  of  sheriffs,  it  should  read  "  John  Chandler, 
shevitt"  11  years  to  17G2,"  instead  of  1751. 

Page  231,  instead  of  the  first  two  lines,  read: — "County  Treasurers — 
Benjamin  Flagg  to  1741  ;  Daniel  Heyvs'ood  to  1754  ;  Gardner  Chandler  to 
17G'3  ;  John  Chandler  to  1775." 

Page  234,  5th  line  from  bottom,  insert  "  Jonas  Sibley,  representative  from 
1823  to  1825,"^  after  Lewis  Bigelow. 

Page  257,  line  7th,  for  "  Edward  D.  Bangs,"  read  "  Judge  Edward 
Bangs." 

Page  270,  line  14th,  after  *'•  Worcester  Temperance  House,  "  insert 
"  Quinsigamond  Hotel,  City  Hotel."  Also,  in  l7th  line,  insert  "  Wm. 
AVhitney"  after  J.  E.  Wood. 

Page  308,  3d  line  from  bottom,  for  "  July,"  read  "  Jan.  22." 

Page  323,  1st  and  4th  lines,  for  "  LeTravelleur,"  read  "  Le  Travailleur." 

Page  327,  for  correct  statement  about  "  Evening  Budget"  and  "  Worces- 
ter Daily  San,"  see  page  375. 

Page  328,  at  the  13th  line,  for  "  were,"  read  "  was." 

Page  339,  line  14,  fur  Marcus  Barrett  and  A.  W.  Ward,  read  "  Wm. 
Goss." 

Page  367,  16th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Ewards,"  read  "  Edwards." 

Page  380,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  May  25,"  read  "  May  19." 

Page  382,  line  23,  for  "  William's  son,"  read  "  Silas'  son." 

In  the  description  on  page  392  of  the  Frontispiece,  it  should  have  been 
stated  that  the  old  bank  wall  there  represented  was  removed  in  18G9,  and 
Chatham  street,  then  greatly  widened  at  that  point. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CFIAPIER  T. 
Early  History,  page  9  ;  First  attempted  settlement,  12  ;  Second  attempted  settlement,  14. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Earlv  History ,  continued./Thifd'angr^ermapent  settlement,  IS.'' 

CHAPTER  III. 

Early  Histoej,  continued.  Organization  of  the  townj(^25^  Earliest  officials  and  rrominent 
familie<g;  ^--^ 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Genealogical.     The  Curtis  Family,  33  ;  The  Rice  Family,  40. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Genealogical,  continued.  The  Bigelow  Family,  44  ;  The  Goulding  Family,  48  ;  The  Stowell  Fam- 
ily, 53  ;  The  Jennison  Family,  56. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Genealogical,  continued.     The  Chandler  Family,  C2  ;  The  Paine  Family,  79  ;  The  Putnam  Fam- 
ily, 90  ;  The  Upham  Family,  101. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Genealogical,  continued.     The  Flagg  Family,  106  ;  The  Grout  Family,  108  ;  The  Perry  Family,  109. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Ecclesiastical  History,  112  ;  The  First  Cuurch,  112  ;  Sittings  of  the  Old  Meeting-house,  113  ;  The 
Present  Meeting-house,  114  ;, The  Pastors,  118  ;  The  Deacons,  125  ;  Clerks,   126;  Music,   126; 
Scotch  Presbyterian  Church,  126 ;   Worcester  North  and  South  Precincts  or  Parishes,  128. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Ecclesiastical  History,  continued.  The  Second  Parish  (First  Unitarian)  Church,  131;  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Church,  132  ;  Parish  Meetings,  133  ;  First  Meeting-house,  135  ;  First  Pew  Owners, 
135  ;  Second  Meeting-house,  137  ;  Third  and  Present  House  of  Worship,  139  ;  First  Pastor, 
141  ;  First  Baptisms,  143  ;  Second  Pastor,  144  ;  Third  and  Present  Pastor,  146  ;  Deacons,  146  ; 
Parish  Clerks,  147  ;  Music,  147. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  continued.  The  First  Baptist  Church,  149;  Constitution  of  the  Church, 
153  ;  First  Installation,  154  ;  Original  Members  of  the  Church,  155  ;  First  Meeting-house,  155  ; 
Second  and  Present  House  of  Worship,  157  ;  Pastors,  158  ;  Deacons,  165  ;  Clerks,  165  ;  Music, 
166  ;  Other  Churches, 166. 

CHAPTER  XT. 

Schools  and  School  Houses.  First  Schools,  169;  John  Adams  a  Worcester  School-master  178  ; 
His  Description  of  the  Situation  here,  174  ;  School  Progress  since  the  Revolution,  181 ;  Princi- 
pals of  High  School  and  School  Superintendents,  186. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Municipal  Officers,  &c.  Selectn-eu,  188;  Worcester  a  City,  Mayors  and  Officers  of  Common 
Council,  190;  Town  and  City  Clerks  and  Treasurers,  191  ;  City  Mnrshals,  192  ;  Representatives 
to  General  Court,  193  ;  Senators,  195  ;  General  Progress  from  1722  to  1877,  196. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Burial  Grounds.    The  First  Burial  Places, 199  ;  Burials  on  Old  Common,  204  ;  Burials  in  Mechan- 
ic Street  Cemetery,  207  ;   Pine  Street    Burial   Ground,  210;  Rural  Cemetery,  210  and  214; 
Hope  Cemetery,  210  ;  French  Catholic  Cemetery,  212  ;  Other  Burial  Places,  212  ;  Sextons  and 
Undertakers,  215. 


viii.  Co7itents. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

Courts  Court  Hosues,  County  Officers,  Jails,  &c.  Courts  and  County  Officers,  216  ;  The  Court 
of  General  Sessions,  219  ;  Supreme  Court,  221 ;  Central  District  Court.  222  ;  Court  Houses, 
222  ;  Old  Brick  Court  House,  223  ;  Stone  Court  House,  224  ;  County  Jails,  225  ;  Jailors,  228  ; 
Sheriffs,  229;  Clerks  of  the  Courts,  229;  District  Attorneys,  230;  Treasurers,  Registers  of 
Deeds,  Judges  and  Registers  of  Probate,  231 ;  Court  of  Insolvency,  232  ;  Criers,  232  ;  Council- 
lors, 232  ;  Representatives  in  Congress,  234  ;  Other  Distinguished  Officers,  235. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Washingtox  and  Lafayette  in  Worcester,  237  ;  Washington's  First  Visit  in  1775,  237  ;  Washing- 
ton's Second  Visit  in  1789,  239  ;  Reception  in  Worcester,  239  ;  Lafayette's  iirst  Visit  in 
1824,  243  ;  Lafayette's  Second  Visit  in  1825,  249. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Worcester  and  its  Ancient  Dwellings.  Original  Boundaries,  250;  Worcester  in  1750,  251 ; 
Ponds,  Streams,  &c.,  252  ;  Ancient  Dwellings  and  their  Occupants,  254. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Hotels,  Post  Office,  Town  Hall,  266  ;  Old  Central  Hotel,  268  ;  Eagle  Hotel,  270  ;  Waldo  House, 
270;  Lincoln  House,  271  ;  Exchange  Hotel,  274  ;  American  Temperance  House,  276  ;  Washing- 
ton Square  Hotel,  278  ;  Old  United  States  Hotel,  281  ;  Post  Office,  279  ;  Town  Hall,  282. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

/Railroads,  Depots,  &c.     The  Old  Foster  Street  Depot  and  its  Surroundings,  290  ;  First  Railroad 
^— "  Opening,  291  ;  Old  Depot,  292  ;  Western  Railroad  Opening,  295  ;  Norwich  and  Worcester  Rail- 
road Opening,  296  ;  Providence  and  Worcester  Railroad  Opening,  296  ;   Worcester  and  Nashua 
Railroad  Opening,  298  ;  Fitchhurg  and  Worcester  Railroad  Opening,  299  ;  Boston,  Barre  and 
Gardner  Railroad  Opening,  299. 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

Printers  and  Newspapers.  Isaiah  Thomas  and  his  Distinguished  Apprentices ,  300 ;  The  Mas- 
sachusetts Spy,  305  ;  The  Daily  Spy,  309  ;  John  Milton  Earle  and  his  Apprentices,  309  ;  The 
National  ^gis,  311  ;  The  Yeoman,  3 13  ;  The  Republican,  314  ;  The  Palladium,  314  ;  Waterfall 
and  Cataract,  316  :  State  Sentinel,  318  ;  Christian  Citizen,  319  ;  Worcester  County  Gazette,  320  ; 
Other  Publications,  320;  The  French  Newspapers ,  322  ;  Daily  Papers,  323;  Veteran  Editors, 
327  ;  Veteran  Printers,  331. 

CHAPTER   XX. 

Additional  Genealogies.  The  Chapin  Family,  337  ;  The  Lovell  Family,  340  ;  The  Green  Family, 
3U  ;  The  Lincoln  Family,  345  ;  The  Allen  Family,  317  ;  The  Mower  Family,  351  ;  The  Upham 
Family,  352  ;  The  Boyden  Family,  353;  The  Rice  Family,  354;  The  Go'ddard  Family,  356; 
The  Tucker  Family,  359  ;  The  Eaton  Family,  360  ;  The  Harrington  Family,  361  ;  The  Stowell 
Family,  362  ;  Other  Families,  362. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Fragmentary  Gatherings.  The  Old  Worcester  Fire  Society,  866;  Worcester  Fire  Dtpartment, 
369;  Oldest  Roads,  369  ;  Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions,  370  ;  Presidential  Electors, 
371 ;  Jury  List  for  1742,  371 ;  Jury  List  from  1757  to  1760,  372  ;  Relics  of  Thomas'  Old  Print- 
ing Office,  372  ;  Other  Newspapers,  &c.,  373;  Street  and  Dummy  Railways,  375;  Old  South 
Church,  376;  Executions  in  Worcester,  376;  Building  Operations,  &c. ,  378;  The  Duncan 
Family,  381 ;  Burial  Places,  383  ;  Military,  384  ;  Oldest  Re.-idents  of  Worcester,  387;  Descrip- 
tion of  Frontispece,  392. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

View  of  Main  street  in  Worcester,  in  1836,               ....  frontispiece 

Map  of  the  Old  Town,               -               -               -               -               -               -  opposite  page  9 

Plan  of  ye  lower  floor  of  ye  Meeting-house  in  1763,                ...  opposite  113 

Old  South  Church  in  1871,           ......  opposite  115 

Old  Meeting  House,  1763,             -               -               -               -               -               -  -    see  map 

Present  Church  of  the  Second  Parish,       -               ,               .               -               ,  opposite  131 

First  and  Second  Churches  of  the  Second  Parish,               ...  opposite  135 

First  Church  of  Baptist  Society,                 -               -               -               -               -  -     see  map 

High   School  Building,               ......  opposite  169 

Old  Summer  Street  School  House,             -               -               -               -               -  -      see  map 

Old  Brick  Court  House,                ......  opposite  223 

Old  Burr  Mansion,        .               -               -               -               -               -               .  -see  map 

The  Lincoln  Mansion,                ...._.  opposite  271 

American  Temperance  House  and  OU  Healey  Mansion  House,             -               -  opposite  276 

The  Learned  Blacksmith,           ......  opposite  319 

The  Judge  Barton  Mansion,        -  ...-.»     see  map 


MMIilSf  Fl'CES  OF  WORCESTER. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Early  settlements  on  the  sea  coast— neighboring  settlements — Indian  tribes— Gookin  and  Eliot 
— King  Philip — Committee  of  General  Court  to  investigate  location  and  have  charge  of  settlement 
— King  Philip's  war — Desertion  of  settlement  by  inhabitants  and  burning  of  houses  by  the  Indi- 
ans— Seeond  attempted  settlement  and  a  re-survey — named  Worcester  by  the  General  Court — 
Queen  Anne's  war  and  second  abandonment  of  the  plantation — Digory  Sergeant. 


Early  History. 
^|;!oRCESTER  was  oiiG  of  the  earliest  places  in  the  interior 
I^A  of  the  State  to  which  the  attention  of  the  first  set- 
tlers from  the  east  was  directed,  the  locality  being 
A^?  described  by  the  committee  of  explorers  first  sent 
out  under  the  authority  of  the  General  Court  to  view 
the  place,  as  situated  in  a  pleasant  valley  about  midway  be- 
tween the  sea  coast  and  the  older  settlements  of  Springfield 
and  Northampton  on  the  Connecticut  River. 

Plymouth  was  founded  on  the  first  arrival  of  the  Pilgrims, 
Dec.  22,  1620  ;  Salem,  the  next  oldest  town  in  the  Common- 
w^ealth,  was  settled  eight  years  later,  in  1628  ;  Cliarlestown  and 
Lynn  in  1629 ;  and  Boston,  Roxbury,  Watertown,  Dorchester, 
and  Cambridge,  in  1630.  Concord  was  incorporated  in  1635, 
and  Sudbury,  settled  in  1639,  colonized  Marlborough,  wliicli 
was  incorporated  in  1660. 

From  those  towns  came  the   settlers  of  further  west.     Lan- 
caster incorporated    in  1653,  Mendon  in  1667,  and  Brookfield 
in  1673,  are  the  only  towns  in  this  county  which  preceded  Wor- 
cester in  time  of  first   settlement,  although  one  or  two  other 
9 


ft 


10  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

towns  ill  the  county  also  antedate  Worcester  by  a  few  years  in 
time  of  incorporation,  owing  to  tlie  fact  that  our  two  first  at- 
tempts at  settlement  proved  failures  on  account  of  the  depreda- 
tions of  Indians,  who  twice  destroyed  the  place,  the  first  time 
in  1675,  and  the  second  time,  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  later, 
during  Queen  xVnne's  war,  the  savages  driving  out  all  the  white 
settlers  and  burning  their  habitations.  Pakachoag  Hill  (on 
tlie  Ijorder  of  Auburn,)  a  little  south  of  where  now  stands  the 
College  of  the  Holy  Cross,  had  been  the  seat  or  head-quarters 
of  a  tribe  of  Nipmuck  Indians,  comprising  some  twenty  lami- 
lies,  numbering  about  one  hundred  persons  in  all,  under  Saga- 
more John,  who  was  one  of  tlie  allies  of  King  Philip  in  the 
Indian  war  of  1675-6.  Another  tribe  of  nearly  the  same  num- 
ber, also  dwelt  on  Tetaeset  (Tatnuck)  hill,  under  Sagamore 
Solomon,  who  also  probably  acted  with  the  otliers  on  that 
direful  occasion. 

These  Indians  were  visited  in  September,  1674,  by  tlie  dis- 
tinguished Indian  apostle  and  philaiitlirophist,  John  Ehot,  of 
Roxbury,  in  company  with  his  historian,  Captain  (afterwards 
General)  Daniel  Gookin,  who  figured  so  prominently  in  the 
earliest  attempts  at  settlement  by  the  whites  in  Worcester,  and 
was  Superintendent,  under  Eliot,  by  apointment  of  the  Gener- 
al Court,  of  measures  for  the  civilization  and  government  of 
the  Indians.  These  red  men  had  then  already  made  consider- 
able advances  in  civilization,  and  some  of  them  professed 
Christianity.  Those  missionaries  came  here  through  Sutton, 
after  visiting  the  tribe  located  at  Dudley,  and  held  a  meeting 
with  the  Indians  here,  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  with  Sagamores  John 
and  Solomon,  the  only  white  man  among  them  being  their 
teacher,  James  Speen,  selected  for  that  work  by  the  authorities 
at  Boston.  Here  on  that  elevated  site,  surrounded  by  the  abo- 
rigines of  the  forest,  Eliot  preached  and  prayed,  in  the  Indian 
tongue,  and  Speen  with  his  Indian  choir  sung  psalms.  In  Sag- 
amore John's  rude  hut  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  Gookin  and  Eliot 
indicted  an  apostolic  letter  '•'■  full  of  Christian  advice  and  coun- 
sel" to  Sagamore  "  Sam,"  of  the  Nashaway  Indians  whose  head- 
quarters were  at  Lake  Waushacum,  in  Sterling,  then  Lancaster, 
imploring  his  subjects  to  abstain  from  their  immoral  practices^ 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  11 

and  receive  instructions  from  their  teaclier  by  whom  this  letter 
was  sent.  For  this  purpose,  civil  authority  was  conferred  upon 
one  of  their  tribe  tliere  to  aid  the  missionaries  in  the  work. 

King  Pliilip  visited  Pakachoag  Hill  in  July,  j675,  where  he 
met  tlie  Chiefs  of  both  tribes  here,  to  induce  them  to  join  him 
in  tlie  war  by  which  the  settlements  in  Mendon,  Brookfield, 
Worcester,  Lancaster,  Maryborough,  and  other  places  were  de- 
stroyed two  hundred  years  ago. 

Although  there  were  no  white   settlements  here  at  the  time 
the  apostle  Eliot  made  his  visit,  yet  the  place  had  been  visited 
nearly  twenty  years  previous  by  settlers  in  and  around  Boston, 
and  grants  of  land  made  by  the  government  to   different  par- 
ties  in   the  vicinity  of  Boston,  in  1657,  1662,  and  1664,  were 
subsequently  designated  and   set  otF  by  them   on  the   westerly 
side  of  Lake  Quinsigamond,  by  which   name    the    settlement 
was  long  after  known.     A  committee,  consisting  of  Capt.  Dan- 
iel  Gookin,  Capt.  Edward  Johnson,  Samuel  Andrew,  and  An- 
drew Belcher  of  Boston,  was  appointed  by  the  General   Court, 
May  15,  1667,  to  view  the  place,  and  report  "  whether  it  be 
capable  of  making  a  village,  and  what  number  of  families  may 
be  there  accommodated,  and  if  they  find  it  fit  for  a  plantation, 
then  to  offer  some  meet  expedient  how  the  same   may  be  set- 
tled and  improved  for  the  public  good."     This  committee,  hav- 
ing attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  made   a  favorable  re- 
port, Oct.  20,  1668,  recommending   that   this   tract   of   "  very 
good   chestnut  tree   and   meadow  land,  located    about  twelve 
miles  west  of  Marlborough,  be  granted  and  laid  out  for  a  town, 
about  the  contents  of  eight  miles  square,  in  the  best  form   the 
place  will  bear,  it  being  conveniently  situated  and  well  watered 
with  ponds  and  brooks,  and  lying   near   midway   on   the   great 
road  between  Boston  and  Springfield,  about  one  day's  journey 
from   either  ;  "  and   that  "  a  prudent  and   able  committee   be 
appointed  and  empowered  to  lay  out  the  territory,  admit  inhab- 
itants, and  order  the  affairs  of  the  place   in   forming  the  town, 
granting  lots,  and  directing  and  ordering  all  matters  of  a  pru- 
dential nature  until  the  place  be  settled  with  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  and   persons  of  discretion,  able   to   control 
the  affairs  thereof,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Court ;  "  that  "  due 


12  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

care  be  taken,  by  the  said  Committee,  that  a  good  minister  of 
God's  Word  be  placed  there  as  soon  as  may  be,  that  sucli  peo- 
ple as  may  be  there  planted  may  not  be  like  lambs  in  a  large 
place  ;"  and  that  there  be  two  or  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
reserved  and  laid  out  for  the  Commonwealth."  for  a  Common, 
ministerial  land,  school-house,  <fcc.,  and  "that  the  committee 
have  power  and  liberty  to  settle  inhabitants  thereupon,  for 
lives  or  times,  upon  a  small  rent  to  be  paid  after  the  first  seven 
years."  They  estimated  that  this  tract  of  "  very  good  chestnut 
tree  and  meadow  land,"  &c.,  comprising,  besides  what  is  now 
Worcester,  Holden,  set  off  in  1740,  and  a  part  of  what  is  now 
Auburn,  set  off  in  1778,  might  possibly  with  proper  industry 
and  effort,  "  afford  support  for  sixty  families;"  a  prophesy  pre- 
senting a  most  astonishing  contrast  with  the  present  fact  of 
over  fifty  thousand  thriving  inhabitants  now  dwelling  on  less 
than  one-half  of  that  original  eight  miles  square  of  hills  and 
valleys,  with  their  numerous  and  extensive  manufacturing  es- 
tablishments, magnificent  public  buildings,  and  elegant  and 
costly  private  residences,  and  having  the  manifold  products  of 
our  industries  in  all  the  markets  of  the  world. 

The  report  of  this  committee  was  accepted  by  the  General 
Court,  and  its  recommendations  adopted,  and  Captains  Daniel 
Gookin  of  Cambridge,  Daniel  Henchman  of  Boston,  and 
Thomas  Prentice  of  Woburn,  and  Lieut.  Richard  Beers  of 
Watertown,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  them  into  ex- 
ecution, and  have  the  charge  of  the  settlement  till  it  shouM 
become  of  sufficient  growth  to  manage  its  own  concerns. — 
Their  first  meeting  was  held  in  Cambridge,  July  6,  16G9,  when 
a  plan  for  the  projected  plantation  was  formed,  contemplating 
the  division  of  2250  acres  of  its  central  portion  into  25  acre 
lots,  with  reservations  of  land  for  the  meeting-house,  parson- 
age, school-house,  common,  &c. 

First  Attempted  Settlement. 

In   those    early    times,  movements  were    necessarily  slow. 

The  most  important  step,  after  securing  the  government  title, 

before  venturing  to  build   or  plant,  was  the   extinguishment  of 

the  Indian   claim  to  the  territory,  which  Avas  done  by  a  deed 


Jieminiscences  of    Worcester.  13 

from  Sagamores  John  of  Pakachoag  and  Solomon  of  Tetaeset, 
dated  July  13,  1674,  the  consideration  for  this  whole  tract 
eight  miles  square,  comprising  two  and  one-lialf  towns,  being 
the  meagre  sum  of  "  twelve  pounds  lawful  money."  Previous 
to  this  year,  however,  one  person,  Ephraim  Curtis  from  Sud- 
bury, had  settled  upon  his  claim,  his  lot  or  rather  series  of  lots 
comprising  land  still  in  possession  of  his  descendants,  on  Lin- 
coln street,  between  the  City  Farm  and  Adams  Square,  and  he 
may  thus  be  called  the  first  actual  white  settler  in  Worcester. 

During  the  year  1674,  quite  a  number  of  others  began  to 
build  upon  and  cultivate  land  taken  up  by  them  in  different 
sections  of  the  place,  and  during  the  following  year,  1675,  the 
work  of  settlement  was  prosecuted  with  vigor.  Among  those 
taking  up  lots  assigned  them,  were  Captains  Daniel  Gookin  of 
Cambridge,  Daniel  Henchman  of  Boston,  Thomas  Prentice  of 
Woburn,  and  Lieut.  Richard  Beers  of  Watertown,  of  the  com- 
mittee chosen  by  the  General  Court  in  1668  to  have  charge  of 
the  settlement  until  some  form  of  town  organization  should  be 
adopted. 

Everything  was  going  forward  prosperously,  the  inhabitants 
"building  after  the  manner  of  a  town,"  when  all  their  operations 
were  brought  to  a  lamentable  close  by  th.e  raging  of  King 
Phillip's  war.  Mendon,  the  nearest  settlement  south,  was 
burned  July  14,1675  ;  Brookfield,  the  nearest  at  the  west,  w^as 
burned  Aug.  4 ;  Lancaster,  the  nearest  at  the  north,  was  at- 
tacked Aug.  22,  when  eight  persons  were  killed  ;  and  Worces- 
ter was  so  surrounded  and  attacked  by  the  savages  as  to  cause 
a  desertion  of  the  settlement.  All  the  buildings  erected  after 
so  much  labor  by  those  early  settlers  in  this  then  wilderness 
were  burned  by  the  Indians,  Dec.  2,  1675.  Capt.  (afterwards 
General)  Henchman  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of 
the  settlement  in  the  fight  with  the  Indians.  Lieut.  Richard 
Beers  was  killed  near  Northfield  in  September  of  that  year, 
while  battling  with  the  savages.  Lieut.  Phinehas  Upham,  an- 
other of  the  early  settlers,  received  a  mortal  wound  in  the 
attack  on  Narraganset  fort,  in  December  of  that  year. 

The  settlement  here  remained  in  a  deserted  condition  for 
several  years  after  this  destruction,  but  the  place  subsequently 


14  Meminiscences  of    Worcester. 

rose,  phoenix-like,  from  not  only  this,  but  a  second  destruction, 
many  years  later,  to  what  we  now  behold  it  after  two  centuries 
of  progress  from  beginnings  so  energetic  and  determined. 

The  Second  Attempted  Settlement. 

The  second  attempt  at  settlement  was  begun  in  1684,  the 
rights  of  those  who  liad  procured  title  to  the  soil  having  in  tiie 
meantime  been  confirmed  to  them  by  the  General  Court,  witli 
inducements  to  the  first  planters  to  resettle,  and  encouragement 
to  others  to  come.  A  vacancy  on  the  committee  having  charge 
of  the  settlement,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Lieut.  Richard 
Beers  of  Watertown,  killed  by  the  Indians,  was  supplied,  on  ap- 
plication of  the  survivors,  by  the  appointment  of  Capt.  John 
Wing  of  Boston. 

A  general  resurvey  of  the  43,000  acres  in  tliis  eight  miles 
square  tract  was  made  in  1683,  and  the  plan  allowed  and  con- 
firmed by  the  General  Court :  and  on  petition  of  the  commit, 
tee.  Captains  Gookin,  Henchman,  Prentice,  and  Wing,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1684,  the  plantation  was  named  Worcester,  (it  having 
been  before  known  by  its  Indian  name,  Quinsigamond,  from 
the  lake  bounding  it  on  the  east,  where  the  natives  were  accus- 
tomed to  hunt  and  fish.) 

A  lot  of  100  acres  was  laid  out  for  Capt.  Daniel  Gookin  on 
the  east  side  of  Pakachoag  Hill,  overlooking  what  is  now  Quin- 
sio-amond  Yillao'e,  and  also  another  lot  of  80  acres  on  Raccoon 
Plain,  west  of  the  latter,  between  South  Worcester  and  New 
Worcester. 

A  tract  of  80  acres  was  assigned  to  Capt  John  Wing,  who 
built  the  first  saw  mill  on  the  plantation,  on  the  west  side  of 
Mill  Brook  a  short  distance  north  of  Lincoln  Square,  near  the 
ancient  citadel  or  fortified  garrison  of  the  town,  erected  at  this 
time.     He  afterwards  added  a  corn  mill. 

The  first  corn  mill  in  the  place,  was  built  by  Elijah  Chase, 
whose  location  was  on  the  stream  at  Quinsigamond  Tillage, 
near  the  present  Iron  Works. 

Capt.  Henchman's  location  was  near  Capt.  Wing's,  just 
north  of  Lincoln  Square,  and  included  the  site  of  the  present 
Worcester  &  Nashua  Railroad  freiglit  house  and  Henchman 
street,  his  son,  Nathaniel,  living  there  after  him. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcesie)\  15 

Digory  Sergeant  settled  on  Sagatabscot  Hill,  Thomas  Brown 
near  Adams  Square,  and  others  followed  from  year  to  year,  but 
no  definite  account  is  now  attainable  of  the  extent  of  this  sec- 
ond fruitless  attempt  at  permanent  settlement. 

Capt,  Henchman  dying  in  1686,  and  Capt.  Gookin  in  1687, 
both  then  ranking  as  Generals,  their  places  on  the  committee 
having  in  charge  the  settlement  were  suppled  by  the  a{)point- 
ment  of  Capt  Joseph  Lynde  and  Dea.  John  Haynes  of  Sudbury, 
and  Col.  Adam  Winthrop  of  Boston,  a  brother  or  near  relative 
of  Gov,  John  Winthrop. 

Although  the  power  of  tlie  savages  had  been  temporarily 
crushed,  predatory  bands  of  Indians  still  continued  ^to  haunt 
the  place,  but  the  record  of  what  happened  here  from  1686  to 
1713,  is  very  meagre  and  indefinite,  except  to  show  that  the 
Indians  caused  a  second  desertion  of  the  place.  Their  most 
serious  irruption  occurred  during  the  raging  of  Queen  Anne's 
war,  beginning  in  the  year  1702,  among  the  victims  being  the 
family  of  Digory  Sergeant,  who  was  killed  while  valiantly  de- 
fending his  garrison  house  on  Sagatabscot  Hill,  and  his  w^ife 
and  five  children  w^ere  taken  prisoners.  Mrs.  Sergeant  was 
ruthlessly  tomahawked  while  ascending  Tatnuck  Hill,  on  the 
way  north,  because  of  her  inability  to  keep  up  with  the  others 
in  walking,  she  being  in  ill-health. 

The  fate  of  Digory  Sergeant,  (then  spelled  Serjent,)  was  an 
exceedingly  melancholy  one.  He  had  the  extreme  boldness  to 
remain  alone  with  his  family  in  his  elevated  fortified  garrison 
house,  long  after  all  the  others  then  in  the  place  had  fled  before 
the  perils  of  the  savage  foe,  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of 
1702,  resisting  all  the  importunities  of  the  committee  having 
the  settlement  in  charge  to  seek  safety  by  desertion  or  flight. 
During  the  following  winter,  as  an  armed  force  of  twelve  men 
under  Capt.  Thomas  Howe  of  Marlborough,  visited  the  place 
in  pursuit  of  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  just  committed  renew- 
ed depredations  there,  on  reaching  the  house  of  Sergeant  they 
*'  found  the  door  broken  down,  the  owner  stretched  in  blood  on 
the  floor,  and  the  dwefling  desolate."  The  foot-prints  made  by 
the  murderous  Indians  in  the  snow  indicated  the  course  of  their 
flight,  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  and  the  trail  was  followed 


16  Jieminiscences  of    Worcester. 

for  some  distance  by  the  pursuing  party,  after  which  they  re- 
turned and  "  buried  Sergeant  at  the  foot  of  an  oak."  Precise- 
ly where  this  spot  is,  is  a  matter  of  interesting  speculation  and 
conjecture.  It  was  afterwards  found  that  Sergeant's  children 
were  taken  to  Canada,  and  remained  there  a  number  of  years. 
The  oldest,  Martha,  was  the  first  one  redeemed;  she  subsequent- 
ly married  Daniel  Shattuck  at  Marlborough,  Sept.  6,  1719,  and 
returned  to  dwell  again  on  the  spot  so  full  of  sad  reminiscences 
to  her  family,  she  having  inherited,  by  the  will  of  her  father, 
made  in  1696,  his  estate  comprising  the  eighty  acre  lot  on 
which  he  settled.  She  gave  the  following  particulars  of  the 
awful  and  double  catastrophe  to  her  father  and  mother,  of 
which  she  was  a  witness  : 

''  Wlien  the  Indians  surrounded  her  father's  house,  he  seized 
his  gun  to  defend  himself  and  family.  He  was  fired  upon  and 
fell ;  the  Indians  rushed  in  and  dispatched  him  and  tore  the 
scalp  from  his  head.  The  Indians  seized  the  mother  and  her 
children — Martha,  John,  Daniel,  Thomas  and  Mary — and  began 
a  rapid  retreat.  The  wife  and  mother,  fainting  with  grief  and 
fear,  impeded  their  flight,  and  while  ascending  the  hills  of 
Tatnuck,  hi  the  northwesterly  part  of  Worcester,  a  chief  step- 
ped out  of  the  file,  and  looking  around  as  if  for  game,  excited 
no  alarm  in  his  sinking  captive  ;  when  she  had  passed  by,  one 
blow  of  his  tomahawk  relieved  the  savages  from  the  obstruction 
to  their  march." 

Of  the  other  children,  Daniel  and  Mary  cliose  to  remain  with 
the  Indians^and  adopted  their  habits  ;  Thomas  was  in  Boston 
early  as  t^44  ;  and  John  appears  to  have  returned  and  been  on 
the  old  homestead  here  in  1721  and  in  1723,  he  and  his  broth- 
er-in-law, Daniel  Shattuck,  being  soldiers  in  Kellogg's  company 
from  Worcester  to  fight  the  Indians. 

Daniel  and  Martha  (Sergeant)  Shattuck  resided  afterwards 
at  Westborough,  where  they  had  five  children,  of  whom  Sarah, 
born  about  1724,  married  Elijah  Rice  in  1741,  whose  grand- 
lather  Thomas,  was  brother  of  Jonas  and  Gershom  Rice,  first 
permanent  settlers  in  Worcester.  Sarah  (Shattuck)Rice  learned 
the  sufferings  of  her  grandparents  and  their  children  from  her 
mother,  who  told   her  that  "  the   Indians  required  her  to  carry 


nd  Martha  (S^^-^gaant)  SIuU- 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  17 

licr  infant  sister  Mary  for  two  days  on  tlieir  marcli,  when,  slie 
becoming  troublesome,  they  took  her  from  her  arms  and  with- 
drew lior  from  sight,  and  she  never  saw  her  again  ;  and  that 
wliile  in  Canada,  where  she  was  detained,  seven  years,  she  was 
compelled  to  see  many  prisoners  burned  at  the  stake,  the  Indi- 
ans dancing  around  and  making  the  forests  ring  with  their  war 
whoop,  and  telling  her  that  on  such  a  night  they  should  have 
another  dance  ivhen  she  laould  be  the  victim .[ 

Of  the  five  children  of  Paniel  a 
tuck,  born  at  Westborough,  Daniel,  jr.,  born  iu  1745,  married 
Sarah  Childs  ;  Martha,  born  in  1747,  married  Solomon  Childs  ; 
Elijah,  boru  in  1750,  married  Peggy  Patterson  ;  Sarali,  born  in 
1760,  married  Capt.  B.  Whitcomb  ;  and  their  descendants  are 
numerous,  located  principally  in  Henniker,  N.  H.,  where  the. 
above  all  settled  after  their  marriage.  Solomoii  Childs  and  his 
sister  Sarah  were  from  Grafton. 

This  unfortunate  Digory  Sergeant,  originally  from  Maiden, 
who  was  one  of  those  here  in  1685  to  aid  in  this  second  attempt 
at  settlement  in  Worcester,  was  undoubtedly  of  the  same  fam- 
ily with  Jonathan,  Nathan,  Joseph  and  Thomas  Sargent,  from 
Maiden,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Leicester,  and 
ancestors  of  the  Sargents  in  this  county.  The  slight  change  in 
name  (from  Serjcnt  to  Sargcant)  is  no  more  than  often  occurs 
in  the  same  familv  in  tlie  course  of  two  hundred  years. 


CHAPTER     II. 


Third  and  permaneat  settlement — General  Court  sends  a  Committee  to  adjust  claims  of  former 
settlers,  and  make  new  allotments — some  account  of  the  prominent  settlers  ,  their  residences  and 
location — First  death — First  bridge — Roads  and  paths. 


The  Third  and  Permanent  Settlement  in  ITlo. 

Ill  the  spnng(of  1713^JlJe  proprietors,  encouraged  by  favor- 
able prospects,  and  undismayed  by  former  failures,  made  a 
third  attempt  to  settle  the  town.  Oct.  13th  of  this  year. 
Col.  Adam  Winthrop,  Jonas  Rice,  and  Gershom  Rice  of  Marl- 
borough, who  had  previously  been  here,  addressed  the  General 
Court  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  others  interested,  represent- 
ing their  desire  to  "  endeavor  and  enter  upon  a  new  settlement 
of  the  place  from  which  they  had  been  driven  by  the  war," 
and  praying  "  for  the  countenance  and  encouragement  of  the 
Court  in  their  undertaking,"  for  protective  measures  in  case  of 
a  new  rupture  with  the  Indians,  and  asking  for  a  proper  com- 
mittee to  direct  matters  in  the  plantation  "  till  they  come  to  a 
full  settlement."  In  response  to  this  petition.  Col.  Adam  Win- 
throp, Col.  Wm.  Taylor  of  Maiden,  Col.  Wm.  Dudley  of  Bos- 
ton, and  Capt.  Thomas  Howe  of  Marlborough,  were  appointed 
the  committee,  who,  after  attending  to  the  several  duties  thus 
assigned  them,  presented  a  detailed  report  of  their  doings 
in  adjusting  the  claims  of  former  settlers,  &c.,  stating  that 
they  had  allowed  thirty-one  rights  of  former  settlers  and 
admitted  twenty-eight  persons  more  to  take  lands  on  condition 
of  paying  twelve  pence  per  acre,  this  being  the  amount  per 
acre  paid  by  the  original  settlers,  and  40  acres  were  to  be  as- 
signed to  each  member  of  the  committee,  as  compensation  for 
their  services.  This  report  was  accepted  by  the  General  Court 
and  received  the  approval  of  Gov.  Joseph  Dudley,  June  14, 
1714. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  19 

Jonas  Rice,  who  had  been  a  planter  during  the  second  settle- 
ment, returned  Oct.  21,  1713,  with  his  family,  being  the  first 
to  come  back  under  the  new  order  of  things,  and  from  this  day 
is  dated  the  third  and  permanent  settlement  of  the  town.  He 
located  on  Sagatabscot  Hill,  latterly  called  Union  Hill,  his  farm 
including  some  of  the  lands  formerly  cultivated  by  the  unfor- 
tunate Digory  Sergeant.  The  house  of  this  first  permanent 
settler  in  Worcester  stood  on  Heywood  street,  nearly  opposite 
the  corner  of  Winthrop  and  Grailite  streets,  and  a  little  south- 
cast  of  the  present  residence  of  George  Crompton.  The  old 
homestead  remained  for  five  generations  in  the  family,  the  or- 
iginal house  being  torn  dow^n  about  fifty  years  ago,  by  Jonas 
Rice's  great-great-grandson,  Sewall  Rice,  who  then  erected  upon 
its  site  the  present  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Edward 
L.  Ward.  Jonas  Rice's  family  were  the  solitary  inhabitants  of 
this  then  wilderness  of  w^oods  and  swamps  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  around,  from  1713  till  the  spring  of  1715,  when  his 
brother  Gershom  Rice,  the  second  permanent  settler  here, 
came  to  join  him.  Gershom  Rice  located  two  and  a  half 
miles  southwest  of  his  brother,  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  in  the 
north  part  of  Auburn,  where  his  great-great-grandson,  Ezra 
Rice,  still  resides  on  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead  estate. 

The  third  one  to  come  was  Nathaniel  Moore  of  Sudbury,  and 
Daniel  Heywood  soon  followed.  These  tw^o  were  the  first  dea- 
cons of  the  Old  South  Church  from  its  foundation  to  their 
decease,  some  fifty  years,  and  all  four  were  prominent  citizens 
of  the  place,  and  were  upon  its  earliest  boards  of  town  officers 
for  many  years,  and  filled  other  prominent  positions.  Their 
descendants  are  numerous  among  us. 

Other  settlers  soon  followed.  One  of  the  first  things  done 
was  the  erection  of  a  garrison  house  of  logs,  on  the  w^est  side  of 
what  has  since  been  ^lain^  street,  on  the  rising  ground  near 
Chatham  street.  Another  w\as  built  by  Daniel  Heywood,  near 
the  head  of  what  is  now  Exchange  street,  where  he  had  a  tav- 
ern. Besides  these,  there  were  others,  including  the  old  fort 
north  of  Lincoln  Square,  near  the  saw  and  corn  mills  built  by 
Capt.  John  W^ing,  afterwards  owned  by  Thomas  Palmer  and 
Cornelius  Waldo,  father  of  the  senior  Daniel  Waldo. 


20  Reminiscences    of   Worcester. 

A  block  garrison  house  and  fort  was  also  built  northeast  of 
Adams  Square,  where  a  long  iron  cannon  was  mounted  to  give 
alarm  in  case  of  danger  from  the  Indians.  During  the  French 
war  this  gun  was  removed  to  the  green  near  the  meetinghouse. 
On  the  commencement  of  the  devolution,  it  was  posted  west  of 
the  Court  House.  On  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  march  of 
the  British  to  Lexington,  April  19,  1795,  its  peals  aroused  the 
people  to  arms. 

Joshua  Rice,  a  cousin  of  Jonas  and  Gershom,  built  a  garri- 
son house  near  the  upper  end  of  what  is  called  the  "  Joe  Bill 
road,"  then  a  portion  of  the  old  traveled  highway  from  Boston 
through  Marlborough,  Worcester,  Leicester,  and  Brooktield,  to 
Springfield,  coming  hither  by  the  old  Shrewsbury  road  from 
the  north  end  of  Long  Pond,  joining  the  rgad  from  Lancaster 
at  Adams  Square  and  crossing  Mill  Brook  by  the  old  fort  and 
mills  just  above  Lincoln  Square  to  the  "  Joe  Bill  road,"  from 
which  a  pathway  extended  through  the  valley  of  Beaver  Brook 
by  a  circuituous  route  to  New  Worcester.  Joshua  Rice  re- 
mained here  but  a  few  years,  returning  back  to  Marlborough 
soon  after  1722,  where  he  died  in  1734,  aged  73.  Some  vesti- 
ges of  the  old  cellar  hole  of  his  residence  are  still  visible. 

Capt.  Moses  Rice  from  Sudbury,  wdiose  father  was  a  cousin, 
of  Joshua  and  Jonas,  removed  to  Worcester  about  the  year 
1719,  and  built  a  tavern  on  the  site  of  the  late  "  United  States 
Hotel,"  on  which  spot  a  public  house  continued  to  be  kept  by 
different  parties,  in  three  different  structures  until  1854,  with 
the  exception  of  the  period  between  1742  and  the  Revolution, 
when  Judge  John  Chandler  resided  there.  Capt.  Rice  was 
commander  of  a  cavalry  company,  and  engaged  in  numerous 
battles  with  the  Indians,  wiio  continued  to  haunt  the  early  set- 
tlements in  Worcester,  Leicester,  Rutland,  <fec.,  for  many  years* 
He  removed  to  Rutland  about  the  year  1742,  where  he  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  1755,  aged  60.  On  the  site  of  Major 
Rice's  hotel  was  the  residence  of  the  last  Judge  John  Chand- 
ler, whose  mansion  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  a 
family  connection  of  the  Judge,  Major  Ephraim  Mower,  and 
his  nephew,  the  late  Capt.  Ephraim  Mower,  as  a  hotel,  under 
the  name  of  the  -' Sun  Tavern,"  with  a  swinging  sign  in  front, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  21 

on  which  were  represented  the  setting-  sun  and  a  dying  oak. — 
The  old  house  is  still  standing  on  Mechanic-st.,  opposite  Spring 
st.  The  late  William  Hovey,  wlio  purchased  the  estate  in  1818, 
built  upon  the  old  site  the  structure  long  known  as  the  "United 
States  Hotel,"  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  successively 
by  James  Worthington  and  William  C.  Clark,  and  continued 
as  a  hotel  until  Mr.  Clark  built  thereon  his  present  block 
in  1854. 

Obadiah  Ward  from  Marlborough,  (whose  brother  William 
Ward  was  grandfather  of  Major  General  Artemas  W^ard  of  rev- 
olutionary fame,)  located  on  Green  street  and  built  a  saw  mill, 
on  the  site  of  the  Crompton  Loom  Works,  to  the  possession  of 
which  his  son  Richard  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  father  in 
1717.  The  well-remembered  "Old  Red  Mills,"  torn  down 
twenty  years  ago  when  Mr.  Crompton  built  there,  long  occupied 
this  site. 

Major  Daniel  Ward,  (son  of  the  above  named  Obadiah,) 
who  came  here  with  his  father  and  brother  from  Marlborough, 
located  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  opposite  the  Common, 
erecting  his  house  a  little  northerly  of  the  site  of  the  late 
Judge  Barton's  residence.  He  was  grandfather  of  the  late 
Artemas  Ward,  Register  of  Deeds  from  1821  to  1826,  and 
great-grandfather  of  the  present  Daniel  Ward.  His  estate 
comprised  about  thirty  acres  of  land  extending  west  and  south 
from  Main  and  Pleasant,  nearly  as  far  as  Austin  and  Newbury 
streets.  After  occupying  it  about  thirty  years,  Major  Ward 
in  1750,  sold  the  estate  to  Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler,  (brother 
of  the  last  Judge  John  Chandler,)  who  subsequently  erected 
thereon  the  ancient  mansion  house  torn  down  when  Taylor's 
block  was  built  in  1870. 

Sheriff  Chandler  owned  and  occupied  the  estate  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  in  1775,  when  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  country  with  his  brother  tories.  His  confiscated 
homestead  was  subsequently  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Bush 
and  his  sons  Jonas  and  Richard  P.  Bush,  who  added  to  the 
structure  its  third  story,  and  in  1818  sold  the  whole  thirty  acre 
tract  to  the  late  Benjamin  Butman  for  -$9000.  This  w^as  quite 
an  advance  in  price  over  the £3 26  paid  by  Major  Ward  to  Sher- 


22  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

iff  Chandler  sixty-eight  years  previous,  for  the  same  estate,  but 
immensely  out  of  proportion  to  the  millions  the  same  land 
would  now  be  valued  at,  exclusive  of  the  numerous  and  costly 
business  blocks  and  dwellings  standing  thereon. 

The  late  sheriff,  Calvin  Willard,  in  1825,  purchased  of  Mr. 
Butman  the  old  Chandler  mansion  with  an  acre  of  land  around 
it,  and  resided  there  till  1834,  when  he  sold  the  property  to 
the  late  Judge  Barton.  The  old  barn  attached  to  thi;  estate, 
like  the  mansion,  a  venerable  relic  of  a  century  and  a  quar- 
ter ago,  is   still   standing  on  its  original  site. 

Aaron  Adams,  (who  with  Jacob  Holmes  and  Daniel  Ward 
performed  the  duties  of  "  hog-reef"  with  unquestioned  fidelity 
during  the  first  year  of  the  town's  municipal  existence,)  lo- 
cated on  Plantation  street,  his  dwelling  being  the  ancient 
farm  house  still  standing  on  its  original  site  near  the  new 
State  Hospital  barns,  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Charles 
Bowen,  the  venerable  structure  bearing  evidence  of  its  extreme 
ase.     This  Adams  was  a  relative  of  Samuel  Adams. 

Of  others  beside  those  mentioned  above,  who  were  here  pre- 
vious to  1722,  Benjamin  Crosbee  and  Isaac  Miller  located  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  road  near  the  present  City  Farm  build- 
ing ;  James  Miller  and  James  Knapp  located  near  the  upper 
end  of  Plantation  street ;  Ichabod  and  Thomas  Brown  and 
Henry  Lee  near  Adams  Square;  and  John  Curtis,  son  of  the 
original  Ephraim  Curtis,  upon  land  of  his  father,  on  Lincoln 
street,  still  in  possession  of  his  descendants,  where  Tyler  P. 
Curtis,  great-grandson  of  John  Curtis,  now  lives.  Colonel 
Stephen  Minot's  location  was  a  little  west  of  the  latter, 
as  was  also  that  of  Thomas  Haggit,  father  of  the  first  white 
female  born  in  the  settlement.  The  Grays  and  Knights  locat- 
ed north-west  of  Curtis  and  Haggit.  James  Rice,  a  broth- 
er of  Jonas  and  Gershom,  settled  in  the  south-east  part 
of  the  town,  as  did  also  James  Holden  ;  and  Zephaniah  Rice, 
son  of  Joshua,  located  south  of  his  father,  in  the  valley  be- 
tween him  and  New  Worcester.  John  Hubbard  and  the  first 
Palmer  Goulding  lived  in  the  north  precinct,  (afterwards  Hol- 
den.) 

Dec.  15,  1717,  occurred  the  first  death  after  the  beginning 
of   the    permanent   settlement,  that    of   Racliel,  daughter  of 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  23 

John  Kclogth,  sometimes  spelled  Kellougtli,  probably  after- 
wards Kellogg. 

Before  Worcester  was  settled,  the  valley  of  Mill  Brook,  for 
some  distance  above  a  dam  which  had  been  constructed  by  the 
beavers  where  the  Front  street  bridge  now  is,  was  more  or  less 
flowed  with  water  during  the  wet  season.  At  this  fording 
place  a  bridge  of  logs  was  constructed  by  the  first  settlers. 

The  road  now  called  Plantation  street,  was  opened  previous 
to  1722,  from  the  north  end  of  Long  Pond  southerly  by  the 
houses  of  James  Taylor,  Moses  and  Jacob  Leonard,  Aaron 
Adams,  Nathaniel  Moore,  and  James  Rice,  to  the  Hassana- 
misco  (Grafton)  road  and  the  settlement  of  Jonas  Rice  on 
Sagatabscot  Hill.  This  and  the  "  Joe  Bill  road,"  and  a  patli 
which  led  from  the  garrison  house  of  Joshua  Rice  near  the  end 
of  the  latter  to  New  Worcester,  forming  a  connection  with  the 
old  roads  from  Marlborough  and  Lancaster  at  Adams  Square, 
were  the  two  first  great  highways  of  the  town.  What  is 
now  Main  street  at  first  probably  went  no  farther  south  than  the 
Common,  but  the  direct  route  to  New  Worcester  was  soon 
opened  to  the  settlements  in  that  direction.* 

A  path  led  across  the  Common,  from  the  old  meeting-house 
down  the  lower  end  of  what  is  now  Front  street,  to  the 
residence  of  Jacob  Holmes  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  LTnion  Depot,  and  was  probably  soon  afterwards  ex- 

*  The  first  settlers  from  Boston  to  the  Connecticut  Yalley,  where  Springfield 
and  Hartford  were  founded  as  early  a  1635,  and  Northampton  in  1654,  passed 
south  of  Worcester,  by  the  Nlpviuck  road,  through  Grafton.  Not  long  before 
1674,  "  the  country  road,"  so  called,  was  laid  out,  which  led  more  directly  from 
Marlborough  to  Springfield  through  Worcester  and  Leicester  by  the  trading- 
post  at  Broofield,  which  began  to  be  settled  soon  after  1660.  Some  authorities 
atHrm  that  the  route  was  as  above  described,  over  the  "  Joe  Bill  road,"  but 
others  contend  that  it  was  through  Main  Street  to  New  Worcester.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  the  direct,  route  through  Main  Street  was  adopted  very  soon 
after  the  permanent  settlement  of  the  town,  from  the  fact  that  the  Common 
and  first  meeting-house,  the  two  first  taverns,  and  two  important  garrison 
houses  or%rts  were  so  near  each  other  on  the  line  of  this  direct  route.  The 
fact  that  the  first  temporary  log  structure  used  for  a  meeting-house  stood  near 
the  junction  of  Park  and  Green  streets,  and  that  Obadiah  Ward,  one  of  the 
first  to  build,  erected  his  residence  and  mills  near  the  lower  end  of  Green 
street,  previous  to  1717,  indicates  that  travel  at  a  very  early  date  turned  down 
that  way. 


24  Reminiscences   of  Worcestey\ 

tended  south  easterly  so  as  to  connect  with  Plantation  street 
and  the  old  Grafton  road.  Another  path  also  led  across  the 
Common  towards  Green  street,  where  one  of  the  earliest 
settlements  was  made,  and  it  was  probably  soon  extended  up 
the  hill  beyond,  over  what  are  now  Vernon  and  Winthrop 
streets,  to  the  settlement  of  Jonas  Rice,  where  connection 
was  made  with  the  old  road  to  Grafton  and  Sutton. 

A  path  went  from  what  is  now  Lincoln  Square  along  Sum- 
mer street  to  the  first  burial  place,  where  the  Thomas  street 
School   House    now  stands. 

A  path  or  road  was  made  very  soon  after  the  organization  of 
the  town,  along  what  is  now  Pleasant  Street,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  settlers  in  the  valley  of  Beaver  brook,  between 
Joshua  Rice's  and  New  Worcester. 

The  roads  were  then  merely  cart  paths  through  a  compara- 
tive wilderness,  very  different  from  what  we  now  see,  after  the 
science  and  civilization  of  a  century  and  a  half  have  applied 
their  skilful  engineering  to   our  highways. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Incorporation  of  the  town — First  town  meeting  and  list  of  town  oflficers— jurisdiction  of  the  two 
ronstabJes  fixed — Support  of  worship — Old  pound — First  annual  town  n:eeting  and  town  officers — 
Selectmen  lay  out  a  road  to  Shrewsbury — Worcester's  earliest  officers  and  prominent  families. 

Organization  of  the  Town. 

Such  bad  been  tbe  progress  during  tbe  first  four  or  five  years 
of  tliis  re-settlement,  tbat  tbere  were  here  in  1718  about  two 
hundred  inhabitants,  their  fifty-eight  dwellings  being  principal- 
ly rude  one-story  structures  of  logs  with  ample  stone  chimneys, 
and  oiled  paper  supplying  the  place  of  glass  in  most  of  the 
windows.  Advancing  from  this  period  with  a  prosperous 
growth  the  freeholders  and  proprietors  of  the  place,  May  21st, 
1721,  presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  for  incorpora- 
tion as  a  town.  This  petition  was  entrusted  to  John  Honghton 
of  Lancaster  and  Peter  Rice  of  Marlborough,  representatives 
from  those  towns,  with  a  letter  in  behalf  of  the  object  from 
Jonas  and  Gershom  Rice,  the  ''  fathers  of  the  town."  In  re- 
response  to  this  letter,  the  Act  incorporating  the  town  of  AVor- 
cester,  was  adopted  June  14,  1722,  and  on  the  30th  day  of  the 
following  September,  the  first  town  meeting  was  held,  in  the 
meeting-house  on  the  Common,  in  pursuance  of  a  warrant 
issued  by  Ira  Fullam,  Esq.,  of  Weston,  directed  to  Gershom 
Rice  and  others,  warning  the  inhabitants  then  and  there  to  as- 
semble for  the  choice  of  the  necessary  town  officers.  Ger- 
shom Rice  called  the  meeting  to  order  ;  Dea.  Daniel  Heywood 
was  chosen  Moderator  ;  Dea.  Nathaniel  Moore,  Nathaniel 
Jones,  Benjamin  Flagg,  Jonas  Rice,  and  John  Gray  were  elect- 
ed Selectmen  ;  Jonas  Rice,  Town  Clerk  ;  Daniel  Heywood, 
Treasurer;  Nathaniel  Jones,  Jonas  Rice,  and  Henry  Lee,  As- 
sessors ;  Jonathan  Moore  and  John  Hubbard,  Constables ; 
Daniel  Bigclow  and  Thomas  Haggit,  Surveyors  of  Highways  ; 
James  Holden  and  Jacob  Holmes,  Tythingmen  ;  William  Gray 
and  Richard  Ward,  Fence  Viewers;  Nathaniel  Moore,  Clerk 
4 


26  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

of  tlie  Market  ;  John  Gray,  Scaler  of  Leather ;  Robert  Peebles 
and  Aaron  Adams,  Hog  Reefs. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  Selectmen,  Oct.  12,  1722,  the 
northern  and  sonthern  precincts  of  the  town,  then  including 
Holden,  and  one-half  of  Auburn,  were  established  by  the  fol- 
lowing vote  :  That  "  the  country  road  shall  be  the  line  between 
tlie  Constables  from  Leicester  to  half-way  river,  and  from  thence 
said  river  to  be  the  line  till  it  comes  to  Mill  Brook  ;  thence 
said  brook  to  be  the  line  till  it  comes  up  to  the  country  road ; 
then  tlie  country  road  to  be  the  line  to  Shrewsbury,  the  two 
divisions  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  North  and  South 
Precincts." 

This  established  the  respective  jurisdictions  of  the  two  Con- 
stables chosen  each  year,  by  a  dividing  line  between  the  northern 
and  southern  precincts,  which  followed  the  old  "  country  road" 
from  Leicester  to  New  Worcester,  whence  it  followed  the  water 
course  to  South  Worcester,  and  from  the  junction  with  Mill 
Brook  at  the  latter  place,  up  Mill  Brook  to  Lincoln  Square, 
from  which  latter  point  the  dividing  line  was  the  old  road  up 
Lincoln  street  to  Shrewsbury.  Apricot  street  over  the  high 
liill  east  of  Cherry  Valley  was  then  a  part  of  this  "  country 
road,"  which  left  Worcester  over  a  fording-place  a  little  north 
of  the  present  Lincoln  Square. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Oct.  19,  1722,  Capt.  Jones,  Modera- 
tor, the  Selectmen  were  directed  to  procure  standards  for  the 
Clerk  of  the  Market  and  staves  for  the  Constables  and  Tything- 
men,  ai^d  Dea.  Daniel  Hcywood,  Lieut.  Henry  Lee,  John 
Hubbard,  James  How,  and  Jonas  Rice  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  adjust  the  accounts  with  the  first  minister,  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Gardner,  who  had  just  been  dismissed  from  the  pastor- 
ate, after  but  three  or  four  years'  service  ;  £10  were  ordered  to 
be  levied  upon  the  inhabitants  for  the  support  of  the  public 
worship  of  God  in  the  town,  and  Dea.  Daniel  Hey  wood,  Lieut. 
Henry  Lee,  Moses  Leonard,  James  How,  and  John  Stearns, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  a  supply  of  the  pulpit 
for  the  present. 

Nov.  6,  1722,  the  Selectmen  ordained  that  ^'a  highway  four 
rods  wide  be  laid  out,  beginning  at  the  country  road  by  land  of 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  27 

Lieut.  Henry  Lee's  house,  (near  what  is  now  called  Adams 
Square,)  h}^  the  east  end  of  Lee's  land  to  Benjamin  Flagg's 
land,  and  so  through  Flagg's  and  Isaac  Miller's  land  by  marks 
to  land  of  James  Knapp,  and  through  James  Knapp's  and 
James  Miller's  land  to  land  of  Col.  Adam  Winthrop,  by  a  great 
oak  tree  marked  standing  thereon."  This  is  supposed  to  in- 
clude a  portion  of  the  present  Lincoln  street  between  Adams 
Square  and  Plantation  street. 

Jan.  29,  1723,  the  Selectmen  contracted  with  Henry  Lee  to 
build  "  a  pound  for  the  reclaiming  of  disorderly  beasts,  thirty- 
three  feet  square  and  seven  feet  high,  of  good  white  oak  posts, 
six  inches  thick,  and  good  oak  rails  two  inches  thick  and  six 
inches  broad,  to  be  located  near  the  meeting-house,  and  to  be 
finislied  before  March  1,  for  the  sum  of  six  pounds."  This 
was  located  on  what  is  now  Salem  Square,  near  the  Common, 
opposite  the  present  Baptist  Church,  no  part  of  the  Common 
l)eing  used  for  burials  till  1730.  This  old  pound  remained 
there  till  within  the  memory  of  some  persons  still  living,  with 
the  old  wooden  school-house  subsequently  located  near  it. 

At  the  first  annual  town  meeting,  which  was  held  in 
March,  1723,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Jones  w^as  Moderator  ;  Capt.  Na- 
thaniel Jones,  Benjamin  Flagg,  Henry  Lee,  John  Hubbard  and 
Benjamin  Flagg,  Jr.,  were  chosen  Selectmen  ;  Benj.  Flagg,  Jr., 
Town  Clerk;  Henry  Lee,  Treasurer;  Nathaniel  Jones,  Henry 
Lee,  and  Benj.  Flagg,  Jr.,  Assessors  ;  James  Rice  and  Zephan- 
iali  Rice,  Constables  ;  James  Hamilton  and  James  Knapp, 
Surveyors;  James  Moore  and  James  Kelogth,  Tythingmen  ; 
Andrew  Farren  and  Joseph  Crosbee,  Fence  View^ers  ;  Nathaniel 
Moore,  Clerk  of  tlie  Market ;  John  Gray,  Sealer  of  Leather  ; 
Jacob  Holmes  and  Daniel  Ward,  Hog  Reefs. 

May  15,  1723,  the  Selectmen  voted  "  that  the  town  road  to 
Shrewsbury  be  on  the  south  of  Col.  Stephen  Minot's  farm,  be- 
ginning at  a  black  oak  tree  near  land  of  Thomas  Haggit,  thence 
straight  to  the  stump  of  a  tree  about  half  a  rod  south  of  Col. 
^[inot's  house,  and  thence  by  the  fence  of  said  farm  to  an  oak 
marked  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  be  six  rods  wide  on  the 
south  side  of  said  marks."  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  extension 
of  what  is  now  Lincoln  street  from  the  head  of  Plantation 
street  to  the  Shrewsbury  line. 


28  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

At  the  second  annual  Marcli  meeting  in  1724,  Mosos  Leon- 
ard, Moderator,  the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Select- 
men, Jonas  Rice,  Gershom  Rice,  James  Taylor,  Daniel  Hey- 
wood,  and  John  Gray  ;  Assessors,  Moses  Leonard,  Zephaniah 
Rice,  and  Jonas  Rice  ;  Constables,  James  Maclellan  and  Jacob 
Holmes  ;  Surveyors  of  Highways,  Moses  Rice,  Gershom  Rice, 
Jr.,  Palmer  Goulding,  and  Robert  Letliredge ;  Fence  Viewei-s, 
William  Gray  and  Robert  Peebles  ;  Tythingmen,  Richard  Ward 
and  John  Battay  ;  Clerk  of  tlie  Market,  James  Taylor  ;  Sealer 
of  Leather,  Mathew  Gray  ;  Hogreeves,  Isaac  Moore  and  Ma- 
thew  Gray. 

The  duties  of  '^' Clerk  of  the  Market  "  would  appear  to  have 
been  similiar  to  those  of  the  present  "  Sealer  of  Weights  and 
Measures,"  as  the  *'  Clerk  of  the  Market,"  on  the  first  organi- 
zation of  the  town  was  provided  by  the  Constables  with  a  set 
of  weights  and  measures,  consisting  of  a  '•  half-bushel,  peck, 
half-peck,  an  ale  and  wine  quart,  pint  and  gill ;  a  four-pound, 
two-pound,  one-pound,  half  and  quarter-pound,  ounce,  half- 
ounce,  and  quarter-ounce  weights  ;  and  a  yard  measure." 

Earliest  Officials  and  Prominent  Families. 
Of  the  most  prominent  officers  of  the  town  during  the  half 
century  following  its  first  organization,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Moore 
continued  on  the  board  of  Selectmen  twelve  years,  half  that 
time  its  chairman  ;  Dea.  Daniel  Heywood  was  on  the  board 
nineteen  years,  Jonas  Rice  eight  years,  and  Gershom  Rice  nine 
years,  from  1722 ;  Benjamin  Flagg,  father,  son  and  grandson 
of  the  same  name,  were  on  the  board  forty  years  of  the  fifty- 
four  preceding  the  Revolution,  and  their  descendants  of  the 
same  name  for  nearly  a  like  period  afterwards ;  William  Jen- 
nison  was  on  the  board  eleven  years  from  1726  ;  Palmer  Gould- 
ing and  Palmer  Goulding,  Jr.,  eight  years  from  1731  ;  John 
Chandler,  father  and  son,  successively  Judges  of  the  Probate 
and  other  Courts,  and  filling  other  prominent  county  and  town 
officers,  were  in  succession  chairmen  of  tlie  boards  of  Select- 
men for  forty-one  years,  from  1733  to  1775,  both  being  together 
on  the  same  board  seven  years  of  the  same  time  ;  Timothy 
Paine,  Clerk  of  the  Courts  and  Register  of  Deeds,  was  a  Select- 
man for  twenty  years  from  1755  to  1775,  and  Town  Clerk  four- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  29 

teen  years  to  1764  ;  Clark  Chandler  being  the  latter's  successor 
as  Town  Clerk  for  eleven  years  to  1775.  Jonas  Rice,  the  first 
Town  Clerk,  occupied  that  position  thirty  years,  and  Benjamin 
Flagg  and  Zephaniah  Rice  each  two  years.  Daniel  Heywood, 
PJenry  Lee,  James  Taylor,  Nathaniel  Moore,  William  Jennison, 
Gershom  Rice,  and  Benjamin  Flagg  successively  served  as 
Town  Treasurer  from  1722  till  1741,  from  which  time  Joliii 
Chandler,  father  and  son,  successively  filled  that  office,  as  well 
as  that  of  County  Treasurer,  till  the  Revolution. 

The  first  one  to  represent  Worcester  in  the  General  Court 
was  Capt.  Nathaniel  Jones,  in  1727,  after  whom  Judge  William 
Jennison  served  three  years  as  representative,  to  1731,  from 
vvhicli  latter  date  the  second  Benjamin  Flagg,  the  second  and 
third  Judges  John  Chandler  and  Timothy  Paine,  officiated  suc- 
cessively in  that  capacity  until  the  Revolution,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  few  years  between  1766  and  1775,  when  more 
decided  friends  of  the  colonial  cause  than  the  Chandlers  and 
Raines  were  needed,  and  Col.  Ephraim  Doolittlc  and  Joshua 
Bigelow  were  successively  sent. 

The  first  Sheriff  of  tlie  County  was  Daniel  Gookin,  son  of 
the  distinguished  pioneer  settler,  historian,  and  Indian  Super- 
intendent, Gen.  Daniel  Gookin.  The  son,  who  served  as 
Sheriff  from  the  first  organization  of  the  County  in  1731  until 
his  death  in  1743,  resided  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Park  streets  opposite  the  Common,  on  the  site  afterwards  suc- 
cessively occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  Samuel  Fessenden,  one  of 
the  earliest  lawyers  in  Worcester;  and  the  distinguished  lawyer, 
James  Putnam,  the  last  Attorney  General  of  the  Province 
under  the  Colonial  government,  who  came  hero  in  1750,  and 
left  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  on  account  of  his  tory 
proclivities,  his  estate  being  subsequently  occupied  by  Hon.  Jos. 
Allen,  and  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  successively  by  Col. 
Samuel  Flagg,  Daniel  Clapp,  and  the  late  Chief  Justice  Charles 
Allen.  Daniel  Gookin  w^as  succeeded  as  Sheriff  by  the  second 
Benjamin  Flagg,  who  served  until  his  death  in  1751,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  the  last  John  Chandler,  and  the  latter  w^as 
succeeded  in  1763,  when  he  became  Judge,  by  his  brother, 
Gardner  Chandler,  who  was  Sheriff  until  the  Revolution. 


30  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

Of  the  original  "  Fathers  of  tlie  Town,"  Dea.  and  Capt  Dan- 
iel Hey  wood  resided  on  the  site  of  the  present  Bay  State  House, 
where  he  and  his  son  and  grandson  of  the  same  name  kept  a 
hotel  for  nearly  one  hundred  years  from  the  first  organization 
of  the  town.  The  main  portion  of  this  ancient  hotel  building, 
afterwards  known  as  the  old  "  Central  Hotel,"  and  continued 
from  the  last  Daniel  Heywood's  time  as  a  public  house  by  Reu- 
ben Wheeler,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Cyrus  Stockwell,  Z.  and  D. 
Bonney,  Luke  Williams,  Wood  &  Fisher,  E.  T.  Balcom,  Clif- 
ford &  Swan,  aud  Warner  Clifford,  to  the  year  1854,  was  then 
removed  to  make  way  for  the  Bay  State  House,  and  the  old 
structure  now  stands  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Salem  and 
Madison  street.  One  of  its  chambers  was  used  for  a  county 
prison  in  1732.  The  north  end  addition  to  it  made  by  Mr. 
W^heeler  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  is  now  a  part  of  the  car- 
riage manufactory  of  Messrs.  Tolman,  Russell,  &  Co.,  on  Ex- 
change street. 

Daniel  Hey  wood,  one  of  two  first  deacons  and  tavern  keep- 
ers in  Worcester,  was  the  son  of  Dea.  John  Heywood  of  Con- 
cord, from  which  place  Daniel  came  in  1718,  and  married 
Hannah,  sister  of  Major  Daniel  Ward.  Of  their  seven  chil- 
dren, the  oldest,  Mary,  married  Capt.  Israel  Jennison ;  Re- 
becca, born  in  1725,  married  Noah  Jones,  first  keeper  of  the 
old  Jones  tavern  beyond  New  Worcester,  from  1760  to  1781 ; 
Daniel,  born  in  1727,  married  Anna  Wait,  Dec.  13,  1753,  was 
with  his  father  in  the  hotel,  and  died  June  30,  1753,  leaving 
a  son  Daniel,  to  whom  his  grandfather  bequeathed  most  of  his 
large  estate,  including  the  hotel,  which  he  afterwards  contin- 
ued until  his  death  in  1809  ;  Abel,  born  in  1729,  married 
Hannah  Goddard  from  Brookline,  and  the  latter's  son,  Abel, 
Jr.,  who  married  Hannah  Chamberlin,  was  father  of  the  late 
Henry  Heywood,  who  died  in  1872,  aged  87.  The  first  Daniel 
Heywood's  youngest  daughter,  Abigail,  married  Capt.  Palmer 
Goulding,  Jr.,  and  another  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Asa 
Moore,  a  hotel  keeper,  who  died  in  1801,  aged  89.  The 
Heywoods  were  originally  very  extensive  land  owners  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  town  on  both  sides  of  the  main 
highway. 


Iieinmiscences  of    Worcester,  31 

The  first  Daniel  Hcywood,  born  in  Concord,  April  15,  169G, 
who  married  in  Worcester,  Sept.  25,  1718,  a  daughter  of  Oba- 
diah  Ward,  was  brother  of  Phinehas  Heywood,  born  at  Con- 
cord in  1707,  who  w^ent  from  here  to  Shrewsbury  in  1739,  and 
settled  in  the  north-west  part  of  that  town  near  Worcester  line, 
where  his  grandson,  Daniel,  now  lives.  Phinehas  was  promi- 
nent in  town  affairs  in  Shrewsbury  preceding  the  Revolution, 
delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congresses,  &c.,  and  was  father  of 
the  Hon.  Benjamin  Heywood,  who  settled  in  Worcester,  per- 
formed meritorious  service  in  the  war,  and  was  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  from  1802  to  1811,  besides  holding 
other  important  offices.  The  late  Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Heywood  of 
this  city,  was  a  son  of  the  Judge,  who  was  a  nephew  of  the 
first  Daniel  Heywood  of  Worcester.  The  Heywoods  in  Gard- 
ner are   descendants  of  Phinehas. 

Obadiah  Ward,  who  married  Jemima  Harrington  of  Water- 
town,  Dec.  20,  1693,  and  resided  first  in  Sudbury,  and  after- 
wards in  Marlborough,  previous  to  his  coming  here,  where  he 
died  Dec.  17,  1717,  aged  b^^  was  grandson  of  the  original  Wil- 
liam Ward,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Sudbury  in  1639.  Of 
Obadiah  Ward's  nine  children,  some  of  whom  came  here  with 
him,  the  eldest,  Richard,  born  in  1694,  married  Lydia  Wheel- 
ock  ;  Hannah,  born  in  1696,  married  Daniel  Heywood  ;  Daniel, 
born  in  1700,  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mary,  widow  of 
Henry  Coggin  of  Sudbury  ;  Uriah,  born  in  1704,  was  slain  by 
the  Indians  at  Rutland  in  1724  ;  Isaac,  born  in  1707,  married 
Sybil  Moore  ;  Thankful,  born  in  1712,  married  Jonas  Farns- 
worth. 

Daniel  Ward  died  in  1777,  aged  77.  Of  his  nine  sons  and 
three  daughters,  the  oldest,  Henry,  born  in  1727,  married  Lydia 
Mower  ;  Phinehas,  born  in  1729,  married  Eunice  Cutting  ; 
William,  born  in  1733,  married  Elizabeth  Mower  :  Mary,  born 
in  1735,  married  March  30,  1757,  Samuel  Curtis,  a  prominent 
man  in  town  affairs.  Selectman,  &c.,  during  the  Revolution, 
who  resided  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  just  east  of  the  old  Gershom 
Rice  place,  and  was  grandfather  of  the  present  Albert  Curtis, 
wliose  son  now  occupies  his  great  grandfather's  homestead  ;  Azu- 
bah,  born  in   1737,   married  a  relative  of  the   first  Dr.   John 


32  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

Gresii  ;  Samuel,  bom  in  1739,  married  Dolly  Chandler,  and  in 
right  of  his  wife  inherited  the  large  estate  of  300  acres  former- 
ly known  as  the  "  Chandler  Farm,"  extending  west  of  Main 
street  from  Austin  to  May  street,  afterwards  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  late  Abial  Jaques  and  his  sons  ;  Daniel,  born  in 
1741,  married  Damaris  Stevens  ;  Sarah,  married  Thomas  Ba- 
ker ;  Uriah,  born  in  1745,  married  Jemima  Houghton  ;  Asa, 
born  in  1747,  (father  of  Artemas  Ward,  Register  of  Deeds,) 
married  Hannah  Heywood,  widow  of  the  first  Abel  Heywood  ; 
Esther,  born  in  1751,  married.  Josiah  Ball. 

Benjamin  Flagg,  sen.,  whose  original  location  was  on  Lincoln 
street  between  Adams  Square  and  Plantation  street,  was  the 
first  one  of  those  of  the  same  name  for  five  generations  who 
have  filled  so  many  prominent  positions  in  town  as  Selectman, 
etc.,  from  its  first  organization,  including  our  venerable  fellow- 
citizen,  the  present  Benjamin  Flagg,  now  in  his  87th  year, 
formerly  Selectman,  Alderman,  and  Representative  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  who  is  of  the  fifth  generation,  in  descent  from  the 
patriarch  of  1722,  and  whose  grandfather.  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg, 
commanded  a  regiment  from  this  vicinity  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Col.  Flagg's  location  was  on  Plantation  street,  on  a 
farm  of  150  acres,  for  the  last  thirty  years  owned  by  George  S. 
Howe,  formerly  owned  and  occupied  successively  by  Aaron  and 
Leonard  Flagg,  son  and  grandson  of  the  Colonel.  It  is  tiic 
same  original  mansion  of  Col.  Flagg.  enlarged  and  remodeled 
by  the  present  owner. 

Captain  Nathaniel  Jones,  Selectman,  Moderator,  (fcc,  during 
the  earliest  years,  was  probably  ancestor  of  Noah,  Phinehas, 
and  John  Jones,  who  kept  the  old  Jones  Tavern,  still  standing 
on  its  original  site  a  mile  beyond  New  Worcester,  on  the 
Leicester  road,  father,  son,  and  grandson,  successively  keeping 
that  once  celebrated  half  w^ay  stage  house  between  Woi'cester 
and  Leicester  for  three  quarters  of  a  century  subsequent  to 
1760. 


ij^Jyii^j^'M^'IS^'^'iSw 


CHAPTER     IV. 

Earliest  Settlers, — the  Curtis  and  Rice  families,  and  their  connexions  and  descendants. 

The  Curtis  Family. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1673,  as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained 
1)}'  tradition  and  otherwise,  that  Ephraim  Cnrtis,  tlte  first  ac- 
tual wdiite  settler  in  Worcester,  left  Sudbury  with  a  pack  on 
his  back,  along  light  Spanish  gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  an  axe 
ill  his  hand,  and  set  his  face  towards  AYorcester,  arriving  after 
two  days  travel,  on  the  very  spot  still  owned  and  occupied  by 
his  descendants,  on  Lincoln  street,  to  the  sixth  generation. 
The  principal  reason  of  his  selecting  this  locality  to  settle  on, 
was  the  supposition  of  mineral  wealth  in  the  soil,  from  the  re- 
port of  a  valuable  lead  mine  having  been  discovered  in  the 
vicinity  by  the  Indians,  wdio  had  a  sort  of  rendezvous  on  Wig- 
wam Hill,  while  on  their  hunting  and  fishing  excursions.  Here 
Ephraim  Curtis  w^as  all  alone  in  the  W'ilderness  for  a  year  or 
more,  and  in  subsequent  times  used  to  tell  how,  after  working 
all  day,  he  would  sit  dow^n  and  look  towards  Sudbury  and  shed 
tears  in  spite  of  himself.  But  he  had  a  w^ill  that  soon  bore 
him  through.  For  a  time  he  claimed  the  whole  township  of 
Worcester,  but  had  to  be  content  with  two  hundred  acres  near 
the  upper  part  of  Plantation  street,  and  another  plantation 
near  Grafton  gore,  granted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court 
as  his  share  of  the  territory  of  Worcester. 

Ephraim  Curtis  w^as  son  of  Henry  Curtis  of  Watertown,  wdio 
married  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Gay  of  Watertown,  and  died 
in  Sudbury,  May  8,  1678,  leaving  three  children,  Ephraim, 
John,  and  Joseph.  Ephraim  was  born  in  1642,  and  lived  to  be 
over  92. 

It  is  not  now  known  when  or  where  he  was  married,  or  who 
was  Ids  wife,  but  he  certainly  had  two  sons,  John  and  Ephraim, 
to  whom  he   bequeathed   his    estates,  giving  his  homestead  to 
5 


34  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

liis  soil  Jolm  in  1731.  Of  this  John  Curtis,  who  was  amihtaiy 
captain,  and  kept  a  hotel  at  his  residence  from  1754  to  1774, 
we  have  a  definite  account.  He  is  described  as  a  small,  short 
man,  very  proud,  always  on  his  dignity,  and,  as  his  memory  is 
preserved,  a  splendid  horseman,  in  which  capacity  he  shone  to 
advantage  mounted  on  a  spirited  steed.  He  married' Elizabetli 
Prentice,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Prentice,  minister  at  Lancaster 
from  1708  to  1748,  and  with  her  on  a  pillion  behind  him  dressed 
in  a  bright  scarlet  cloak,  Avith  her  arm  around  him,  w^e  have  tbe 
picture  of  Capt.  John  Curtis.  He  died  June  29,  1797,  at  the 
great  age  of  90,  and  his  w^ife  Elizabeth  died  in  1802,  at  the 
same  great  age.  His  son  Jolm  died  in  1768,  aged  37.  Capt. 
Curtis  commanded  a  company  in  the  French  and  Indian  war, 
in  1757.  He  was  a  public  officer  of  some  kind,  probably  dep- 
uty.sheriff,  and  left  chest  after  chest  full  of  papers,  deeds,  &c., 
with  seals  large  as  a  small  sized  moon  down  to  a  fifty  cent  piece, 
which  very  unfortunately  have  been  all  destroyed  by  the  child- 
ren. 

The  first  thing,  and  as  some  think  the  only  thing  the  old  Pu- 
ritans lived  for,  was  to  worship  God  ;  this  they  did  continually 
and  they  were  indeed  jealous,  like  Elijah  of  old,  lor  the  God 
of  Hosts.  The  next  thing  they  did  ^\\t\\  characteristic  punctil- 
iousness, w^as  to  reverence  His  servants  as  represented  in  His 
ordained  ministers  ;  and  thus  situated  on  the  great  highway 
from  the  sea  coast  to  the  Connecticut  river,  this  public  house 
of  the  model  pui'itan,  Capt.  John  Cui-tis,  Avas  for  years  the 
general  rendezvous  of  all  the  mini.-ters  that  went  to  and  fro 
It  was  a  free  hotel  for  them,  and  well  was  it  patronized  up  to 
the  last  generation  but  one. 

The  original  Ephraim  Curtis,  and  the  others  who  had  follow- 
ed him  here,  were  driven  off  from  Worcester  by  the  Indians  in 
1675,  during  King  Phillip's  war.  Having  actively  engaged  in 
the  military  service,  Curtis  received  the  commission  of  Lieu- 
tenant, and  distinguished  himself  as  a  gallant  soldier  in  repel- 
ling the  attacks  of  the  red  men.  July  24,  1675,  after  the 
destruction  of  Mendon,  Lieut.  Curtis  and  others  held  a  confer- 
ence with  four  of  the  Lidian  sachems,  and  obtained  from  them 
assurances   of  their  abandoning'  further  hostile   acts  ;  but  the 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester,  '55 

terrible  destructiou  wliicli  soon  ensued  at  Brookfield,  where 
Jjicut.  Curtis  was  on  duty,  and  barely  escaped  sharing  the  fate 
of  Captains  Hutchiuson  and  Wheeler  and  six  others  from  Con- 
cord, who  were  killed  by  the  savages  while  in  defence  of  that 
garrisoned  place,  indicated  the  certain  doom  of  Worcester, 
where  the  last  remaining  buildings  were  soon  after  burned. 
Lieut.  Curtis  crept  towards  morning  from  the  garrison  house 
to  which  the  inhabitants  of  Brookfield  had  been  driven  on  the 
fatal  night  of  Aug.  2,  when  all  the  houses  there  but  that  one 
were  burned,  and  made  his  escape  toward  Sudbury.  Meeting 
on  the  way  Major  Simon  Willard  and  Capt.  Parker  with  46 
men  from  Lancaster,  who  were  on  the  way  to  fight  the  Indians 
at  another  locality,  Lieut.  Curtis  notified  them  of  the  terrible 
distress  at  Brookfield,  and  they  changed  their  course  and  the 
same  night  reached  Brookfield  after  a  tedious  march  of  thirty 
miles,  and  relieved  tlie  besieged  garrison  there. 

Lieut.  Curtis  left  the  spot  on  which  he  had  attempted  a  set- 
tlement to  his  descendants,  with  no  other  personal  memorials 
or  tokens  of  himself  in  the  family  than  his  gun  and  silver 
headed  cane,  marked  "  e.  c."  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days  in  old  Sudbury,  leaving  his  son  John  to  take  care  of  his 
attempted  plantation  at  Worcester,  and  another  tract  of  250 
acres  to  his  son  Ephraim,  jr.,  on  the  border  of  Worcester,  Au- 
burn and  Millbury,  which  he  conveyed  to  the  latter  in  1734. 

Capt.  John  Curtis,  who  was  born  near  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century,  and  lived  almost  to  its  close,  a  nonogenarian  at 
his  decease,  left  a  well  worn  bible,  (worn  by  his  own  fingers  as 
well  as  by  time  since,)  on  the  fly  leaf  of  which  were  the  lines, 
written  by  his  own  hand  : 

"  The  Ahnighty  spake,  and  Gabriel  sped 

Upon  the  Wings  of  Light  ; 
Jehovah's  Glory  round  him  Spread, 
And  changed  to  Day  the  Night. 
Hallelujah  !    Hallelujah  !    John  Curtis  !  Hallelujah  !" 

He  was  sadly  missed  fi'om  the  pew  which  he  had  so  long  and 
so  punctually  occupied  in  the  Old  South,  (pew  No.  61  on  the 
plan,)  the  floor  of  wiiich  had  to  be  raised  up  six  inches  l3y 
planks  in  order  to  bring  his  head  on  a  level  with  the  rest  of  the 
congregation. 


36  Reminiscences  of    Worcestei\ 

Capt.  John  Curtis  had  seven  children,  of  wliom  Tyler,  born 
April  28,  17o'2,  ^yho  succeeded  to  the  old  homestead,  married 
Lydia  Chamberlain,  and  his  sister  Mary  married  Lydia's  broth- 
er, Dca.  John  Chamberlain,  who  was  father  of  the  late  General 
Thomas  Chamberlain. 

Of  the  remaining  live  children,  tiie  other  daughter,  Sarah, 
married  Capt.  William  Jones,  who  kept  a  hotel  on  the  site  of 
Sargent's  Block,  near  the  junction  of  Main  and  Southbridge 
streets,  from  1770  until  his  death  in  1777,  which  house  was  the 
rendezvous  of  two  tory  spies,  Capt.  Brown  and  Ensign  DeBer- 
nicre,  sent  by  the  British  Gov.  Gage  from  Boston  to  Worcester 
in  the  spring  of  1775,  to  collect  topographical  informaticn,  <fec., 
preparatory  to  the  contemplated  advance  of  a  detachment  of 
British  troops  into  Worcester  at  that  time.  The  other  four 
children  of  Capt.  Curtis  were, — John,  jr.,  the  oldest,  and  James, 
who  died  before  the  father,  Joseph,  and   W  illiam. 

John  Curtis,  jr.,  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  old- 
est, John  the  third,  being  named  after  the  father  and  grand- 
father. The  next,  David,  who  married  in  1791,  Susanna 
Stone,  resided  on  the  north  east  corner  of  Main  and  School 
streets,  and  was  the  princi[)al  blacksmith  of  his  time,  here,  his 
shop,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Levi  Howe,  being  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  Old  Market  and  Union  streets.  His 
daughter,  Dolly,  was  wife  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Green,  and  his 
son  George  was  father  of  the  distinguished  orator  and  scholar, 
George  William  Curtis.  The  latter's  father  removed  from 
Worcester  to  Providence,  w^here  George  William  was  born  in 
1824,  and  removed  thence  to  New  York  in  1839.  The  pedigree 
from  the  first  white  settler  in  Worcester  to  the  far-famed  author 
of  the  "  Potiphar  Papers"  and  other  distinguished  works,  runs 
thus, — Ephraim,  Capt.  John,  John,  jr.,  David,  George,  and 
George  William,  the  latter  being  of  the  sixth  generation  in  de- 
scent from  the  original  Ephraim  Curtis. 

David  Curtis'  brotlier  Nathaniel  died  in  1818,  aged  52,  and 
one  of  the  sisters,  Elizal)eth,  married  Samuel  Jennison,  who 
from  1785  to  1815  kept  the  old  Jennison  tavern,  which  formerly 
stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Lincoln  and  Boylston  streets. 
His  daughter  Rebecca  married  the  late  Thornton  A.  Merrick, 
brother  of  Judo-e  Plinv  Merrick. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  37 

The  seven  cliildreii  of  Capt.  Jolni  Curtis'  son  James,  were 
— Aziibah,  Sophia,  Elizabeth.  Prentice,  James,  Tyler,  Eager  and 
Sarah.  The  latter  married  Ebenezer  Mower,  who  died  in  1861 
aged  over  100.  The  children  and  grandchildren  of  Capt.  Curtis 
nunibored  twenty-five,  (all  living  at  his  death  but  two  sons,) 
for  each  of  whom  he  made  provision  in  his  will,  reservmg  his 
homestead  for  his  oldest  surviving  son,  Tyler,  sulrject  to  the 
widow's  dower.  Capt.  Curtis  closed  his  will,  made  the  year 
before  his  death,  in  these  characteristic  words,  expressive  of  his 
tender  solicitude  for  the  comfort  of  his  surviving  venerable 
consort,  then  an  octogenarian  :  "  Over  and  above  all,  I  give  to 
my  beloved  wife  Elizabeth  two  good  cows  and  four  sheep,  and 
the  use  of  my  chaise  to  ride  in  during  her  natural  life,  to  be 
furnished  with  a  gentle  horse  to  go  in  said  chaise  whenever  she 
may  have  occasion,"  &c.  A  chaise  was  considered  a  great  lux- 
ury in  those  early  times. 

Tyler  Curtis,  grandfather  of  the  present  Tyler  Prentice  Cur- 
tis in  possession  of  the  homestead  estate,  died  April  16,  1807, 
aged  bo^  and  had  six  children,  of  wdiom  Rebecca,  born  in 
1778,  married  Rev.  David  Long  of  Milford  ;  John,  born  in 
1783,  (father  of  Tyler  P.  Curtis,)  married  Nancy,  daughter  of 
Tliomas  Stowell,  clothier,  and  grand  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Stowell  ;  Elizabeth  Prentice,  born  in  1791,  married  Jonathan, 
son  of  Edward  Knight  ;  Nathaniel,  born  in  1793,  died  in  1818  ; 
and  there  was  a  Samuel,  and  a  Tyler,  jr.,  who  died  young. 
Their  mother,  Lydia  (Chamberlain)  Curtis,  died  in  1841,  aired 
88.  '  •  ■ 

The  original  house,  built  by  Capt.  John  Curtis,  used  as  a  tav- 
ern, (tc,  w^as  burned  in  1848,  with  many  valuable  relics,  papers, 
<fec.,  relating  to  the  family,  and  the  present  dwelling  was  then 
erected  on  its  site.  One  of  the  tw^o  huge  elm  trees  which  for 
so  long  a  period  shaded  the  old  mansion,  was  blown  down  by 
a  violent  gale  in  1816,  and  the  other,  into  which  it  had  grown, 
still  stands,  bearing  the  marks  of  extreme  old  age. 

Ephraim  Curtis,  jr.,  who  lived  on  the  farm  of  250  acres 
deeded  to  him  by  his  father  in  1734,  on  the  line  of  Auburn, 
Millbury  and  Worcester,  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Oliver,  the 
f()rn:!cr  of  wdiom    resided  on  that  portion  of  the  original  estate 


38  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

now  owned  by  liis  grandson,  Albert  Curtis,  and  occupied  by  his 
great  grandson,  Charles  F.  Curtis,  the  house  being  about  fifty 
rods  northeast  of  tliat  of  the  original  Gershom  Rice.  Oliver, 
to  wliom  fell  the  other  portion  of  this  farm,  lived  on  the  old 
William  Goss  and  John  Elder  place,  now  owned  and  occupi- 
ed by  C.  P.  Stockwell. 

Samuel  Curtis,  senior,  who  resided  on  the  original  homestead 
of  this  branch  of  the  family  in  what  is  now  Auburn,  v.hei-c  he 
died  Oct.  18,  1814,  aged  84,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  his  time  in  town  affairs,  particularly  during  the  revolu- 
tionary era,  on  committees,  &c.  An  obituary  notice  of  him, 
which  appeared  in  the  papers  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  stated 
that  "His  patriotism  and  valuable  qualities  always  ensured 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  townsmen.  Gifted  by 
nature  with  a  strong  mind,  he  cultivated  and  improved  it  by 
observation  and  reflection  ;  and  as  a  reward  of  his  merit  he 
was  repeatedly  promoted  to  the  highest  honors  of  the  town. 
As  selectman,  representative  to  the  General  Court,  etc.,  his  in- 
tegrity was  always  conspicuous,  and  his  usefulness  always  ap- 
parent." 

Samuel  Curtis,  senior,  who  married  in  1757,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Major  Daniel  Ward,  had  two  sons.  Samuel,  jr.,  and  Ephraim, 
the  latter,  who  left  no  children,  residing  on  the  old  homestead 
of  his  father  and  grandfather.  Samuel  Curtis,  jr.,  who  was 
Captain  of  the  old  WorcesterArtillery,  and  otherwise  prominent, 
was  father  of  the  present  Albert  Curtis.  He  married  Eunice 
Taft  of  Uxbridge,  and  resided  on  Plantation  street,  on  the  es- 
tate (adjoining  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg's)  afterwards  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  son,  Benj.  F.  Curtis,  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  E.  B.  and  G.  Dana.  He  died  Jan.  29,  1811,  (before  his 
father,)  at  the  early  age  of  49.  He  had  six  sons  and  four 
.daughters, — Aaron,  Epliraim,  John,  Benj.  F.,  Albert,  William, 
Sarah,  Abigail,  Lydia  and  Eunice,  of  whom  Albert  and  William 
are  the  only  surviying  sons,  the  latter  residing  in  New  York 
state.  Benj.  F.  married  a  Miss  Wakefield,  and  Albert,  the  en- 
terprising and  successful  manufacturer  at  New  Worcester  mid 
Trowbridgeville  for  the  lust  forty-five  years,  married  Mrs.  Sarah 
K.  G.   Houghton.     Sarah   married  Ebenezer  Reed,   and   Mrs. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  39 

Sumner  Pratt  is  tlieir  daughter.  Eunice  married  Charles  P. 
Bancroft  of  Worcester,  now  of  Boston.  Charles  F.,now  resid- 
ing on  the  old  homestead  of  his  great  grandfather  in  Auburn, 
is  a  son  of  Aaron  Curtis  ;  and  S.  G.  Curtis  of  Worcester,  and 
Albert  W.  Curtis  of  Spencer  are  sons  of  Benjamin  F. 

Oliver  Curtis,  the  keeper  of  the  old  toll  gate  on  the  Stafford 
turnpil^e,  a  little  south  west  of  New  Worcester,  wlio  had  three 
sons,  (Oliver,  Jr,  Edward,  and  Joseph.)  was  son  of  Rev.  Philip 
Curtis,  minister  of  the  old  church  in  Sliaron  frem  1743  to  1797. 
Oliver  Curtis,  senior,  came  here  from  Sliaron  a  short  time 
before  the  turnpike  was  opened,  some  seX'enty-five  years  ago, 
when  his  sons  were  very  young,  and  took  charge  of  the  old 
toll  gate  which  stood  near  his  residence,  from  the  opening  of 
the  turnpike  to  its  close.  His  son  Joseph  for  several  years 
kept  tavern  in  the  old  DeLand  house,  being  the  last  owner  and 
keeper  of  it  previous  to  Charles  M.  DeLand.  This  house,  in 
which  a  hotel  was  kept  for  many  years,  was  built  Qo  years 
ago  by  Charles  Stearns,  who  first  kept  a  hotel  in  it,  beginning 
in  1812,  at  the  opening  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain.  The 
public  exercises  of  the  opening  of  this  hotel  took  place  May 
12,  when  a  liberty  pole  was  raised  on  the  spot  where  Lorintr 
Coes'  house  now  stands,  a  barrel  of  punch  was  served  up  to  the 
crowd  outside,  and  the  day  was  devoted  to  quoit  pitching,  ball 
playing,  and  other  amusements.  This  was  the  first  inauirura- 
tion  of  New  Worcester.  The  old  turnpike  toll  gate  keeper 
was  one  of  the  happiest  of  the  crowd  on  tliat  occasion. 

Oliver  Curtis,  senior,  died  in  1835,  his  old  mansion  and  toll 
gate  long  afterwards  remaining  as  memorials  of  the  past.  His 
sons  Oliver,  jr.,  and  Edward  resided  upon  their  father's  estate 
until  their  decease,  Oliver  dying  in  1866  and  Edward  in  1872, 
both  at  the  age  of  74.  Joseph  Curtis,  the  youngest  of  these 
brothers,  who  died  in  1871,  aged  70,  kept  the  hotel  at  New 
Worcester  from  1824  to  1830.  He  bought  it  of  Dea.  Uriah 
Stone,  who  kept  it  a  few  years  after  buying  it  of  the  original 
owner,  Charles  Stearns.  Joseph  Curtis  sold  the  estate  to  C 
M.  DeLand  some  forty  yeais  ago  and  afterwards  resided  upon 
the  estate  at  New  Worcester  owned  before  the  revolution  by 
attorney  General  James  Putnam,  which   was^  Durchased  of  the 


40  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

confiscating  authorities  by  Asa  Ward,  (grandfather  of  Artemas 
Ward,  Register  of  Deeds  from  1821  to  1816,)  who  resided 
there  until  his  death.  A  sister  of  these  Curtis  brotliers,  Eliza, 
born  after  the  father  came  here,  married  Lyman  A.  Whitcomb, 
and  now  resides  at  New  Worcester. 

The  Rice  Family. 

Jonas,  Gershom,  James,  Elisha,  Ephraim  and  Grace  Rice,  who 
came  here  from  Marlborough  previous  to  the  organization  of  the 
town,  were  children  of  Thomas,  third  son  of  the  original  Ed- 
mund Rice,  who  came  froni,  England  and  settled  at  Sudbury  in 
1639,  removed  to  Marlborough,  and  died  there  May  3,  1663, 
having  had  nine  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Jonas  Rice,  the  first  permanent  settler  in  Worcester,  died 
full  of  years  and  honors  at  the  ancient  homestead  on  Sagatab- 
scot  Hill,  Sept.  22,  1753,  aged  81.  Among  the  positions  he 
had  held,  were  major  in  tlie  military  service,  scliool  teacher, 
deacon  of  the  church,  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  General  Ses- 
sions of  the  Peace  and  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  which 
latter  position  he  lield  at  his  deeease..  PTis  cane  and  steelyards 
and  other  relics  are  now  in  possession  of  his  great-great-grand- 
son, Sewell  Rice,  who  inherited  and  formerly  resided  on  the  old 
homestead  of  his  distinguished  ancestor,  whose  original  dwell- 
ing had  been  the  residence  of  five  generations  in  the  family,  as 
follows:  1st,  the  original  Jonas,  who  died  in  1753,  aged  81  ; 
2d,  his  son,  Absalom,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the 
second  Benjamin  Flagg  of  Worcester,  had  two  sons  and  six 
daughters,  and  died  July  7, 1781,  aged  72  ;  3d,  the  latter's  son 
Jonathan,  for  many  years  a  deputy  sheriff,  who  married  Eunice 
Whipple  of  Grafton,  and  had  three  sons  and  six  daughters,  was 
one  of  the  law  and  order  volunteers  during  the  Shays  Insur- 
rection, was  shot  through  the  hand  in  a  skirmish  with  the  in- 
surgents at  New  Braintree  in  the  winter  of  1786-7,  and  died 
June  16,  1791,  aged  bb  ;  4th,  Jonas,  who  married  Esther  Bix- 
by,  and  had  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  the  oldest  is 
our  esteemed  fellow-citizen,  Mr.  Sewell  Rice,  now  in  his  79th 
year,  who  married  Hannah  D.  Washburn  ;  one  sister  of  Sewell 
married  the  late  Henry  Goulding,  another  the  late  Loring 
Young,  and  another  sister  married  Parley  Holman  of  Leicester. 


^ 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  41 

The  original  Jonas  Rice's  sister,  Grace,  married  Dea.Natlian- 
icl  Moore,  who  died  in  1761,  aged  83,  and  she  died  in  1768, 
aged  94.  Nathaniel  Moore,  son  of  the  latter,  also  a  prominent 
citizen  of  his  time,  died  July  19,  1811,  aged  96,  and  his  wife 
April  25,  1809,  aged  89,  they  having  lived  in  the  married  state 
69  years,  and  witnessed  the  rising  of  the  town,  from  an  nncnlti- 
vated  wilderness,  to  the  possession  of  2500  thriving  inhabitants. 

Of  Jonas  Rice's  five  children,  the  youngest,  Adonijah,  born 
Nov.  7,  1714,  the  next  year  after  his  father  came  here,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Worcester.  Adonijah  Rice  was 
a  cooper  by  trade,  was  in  several  campaigns  during  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  removed  to 
Bridport,  Yt.,  and  lived  with  his  son  Abel,  whom  he  survived, 
and  died  there  Jan.  20,  1802,  aged  88.  His  wife,  Persis 
(Gates,)  died  at  Worcester,  June  6,  1760.  Of  their  eight 
children,  the  oldest,  Persis,  married  Hezekiah  Stowell,  and 
another  daughter,  Susan,  married  Thomas  Eaton,  from  Sud- 
bury, who  died  here  in  1788,  and  was  father  of  the  six 
brothers  Thomas,  Uriah,  Amherst,  Alpheus,  Nathaniel,  and 
William  Eaton,  wlio  have  numerous  descendants  among  us. 
Tlie  last  one  of  these,  the  late  Hon.  William  Eaton,  died  May 
4,  1859,  aged  92.  He  resided  in  the  ancient  mansion  house, 
corner  of  Main  and  George  streets,  still  occupied  by  his  daugh- 
ter, which  was  previous  to  and  during  the  Revolution  owned 
and  occupied  by  that  distinguished  advocate  of  liberty,  Nathan 
Baldwin,  Register  of  Deeds  and  Town  Clerk,  from  1775  to  his 
death  in  1784. 

Gershom  Rice,  born  in  Marlborough,  in  1696,  had  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  Gershom,  Jr.,  being  the  oldest,  all  born 
before  their  parents  came  here  ;  of  these,  one,  Sarah,  born  in 
1709,  married  John  Duncan  of  W^orcester,  probably  ancestor 
of  the  Duncans  here.  Of  the  five  sons  and  four  daughters  of 
Lieut.  Gershom  Rice,  Jr.,  one,  Nathan,  married  Mehitable 
Baldwin  of  Leicester  ;  another,  Elizabeth,  married  John  Boy- 
den  from  Sudbury,  and  died  in  1814,  aged  87  ;  and  Gersliom 
Rice,  3d,  son  of  Lieut.  Gershom,  Jr.,  died  unmarried  in  Au- 
burn, in  1829,  aged  93. 

6 


42  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Tlie  original  Gerslioin  Rice,  wlio  ninrriecl  Elizabeth  Haynes 
of  Sudbury,  died  Dec.  11),  1761,  aged  102  ;  his  son,  Lieut.  Ger- 
shom  Rice,  Ji-.,  who  married  Esther  Haynes  of  Sudlniry,  died 
Sept.  24,  1781,  aged  85  ;  the  hitter's  son,  Comfort  Rice,  who 
married  Martha  Morris,  died  Aug.  16,  1816,  aged  87,  and  his 
wife  died  in  1812,  aged  81  ;  and  Edward  Rice,  (son  of  Com- 
fort,) who  married  Miriam,  daughter  of  Dea.  David  Gleason  of 
Auburn,  died  Aug.  27,  1863,  aged  90  1-2.  All  the  above  lived 
in  the  old  homestead  dwelling  of  the  original  Gershom  Rice  on 
Pakachoag  Hill,  midway  between  Worcester  and  Auburn  Cen- 
tre, on  the  old  road.  That  old  house  which  was  the  residence 
of  five  generations  of  the  family,  including  the  iQw  children  of 
the  late  Edward  Rice,  w^as  torn  down  by  the  latter  in  1821, 
when  he  built  the  present  one  on  its  site,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  nntil  his  death.  His  son,  Ezra,  resides  on  a 
portion  of  the  old  homestead  estate,  in  a  house  bnilt  by  him 
in  1832,  located  a  few  rods  north  of  the  site  of  the  old  ances- 
tral one.  Ezra's  brother  Leonard,  and  other  descendants  of 
Comfort  and  Edward,  reside  in  the  town. 

Of  Edward  Rice's  nine  brothers  and  sisters,  the  oldest,  Es- 
ther, wdio  married  Daniel  Gale  of  Petersham,  died  in  1848,  in 
her  93d  year ;  Mary,  who  married  Timothy  Bancroft  of  Auburn, 
died  in  1844,  in  her  84th  year  ;  Nancy,  who  married  John 
Stone,  died  in  1849,  in  her  87th  year;  Betsey,  who  married 
Thomas  Hart;  lived  in  Anburn,  and  died  there  in  1858,  aged 
90  1-2  ;  Peter,  w4io  married  Mary  Hart,  resided  in  Holden,  and 
died  in  1848,  aged  77. 

Israel  Rice,  grandson  of  Comfort,  is  the  oldest  male  resident 
of  Worcester,  being  now  in  his  88th  year  ;  his  wife  is  a  sis- 
ter of  the  venerable  James  Campbell  of  this  city,  also  hale  and 
active,  in  his  87th  year.  The  above  are  instances  of  family 
longevity  rarely  equalled. 

Our  fellow  citizen,  Darius  Rice,  another  grandson  of  Comfort 
Rice,  for  more  than  a  half  century  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  enterprising  agriculturists  of  Worcester,  resides  on  a  well- 
stocked  farm  near  the  junction  of  Grafton  street  and  Millbury 
avenue,  on  which  the  numerous  trees,  as  well  as  those  shading 
the  highways  surrounding  his  farm,  were  all  planted  by  his  own 
hands  some  fifty  years  ago. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester,  43 

Ephraim  Rice,  brotlier  of  Jonas,  Gershom,  etc.,  who  married 
Hannali  Livermore  of  Watertowii  in  1689,  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  here  in  1718,  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
remained  here  long,  returning  back  to  Sudbury,  with  his  broth- 
er Elisha,  before  1722,  where  he  died  in  1732,  aged  67.  Elisha, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Wheeler  of  Concord  in  1708,  died  at 
Sudbury  in  1761,  aged  82.  He  had  ten  children  and  his  broth- 
er Epliraim  thirteen,  some  of  wdiom  came  here  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  town,  including  Ephraim,  Jr.,  Josiah,  and 
Thomas,  sons  of  Ephraim  Rice,  senior.  Tliis  Thomas  Rice, 
who  died  here  in  1786  aged  83,  had  seven  children,  one  of 
whom,  Sarah,  married  in  1775,  Dea.  William  Trowbridge,  wlio 
resided  in  the  southwest  part  of  Worcester,  since  called  Trow- 
bridgevillc,  and  another,  Josiah,  married  Elizabeth  Trowbridge, 
sister  of  the  deacon.  This  Josiah  Rice  lived  near  Jamesville, 
where  he  had  a  saw-mill.  Of  the  nine  children  of  Dea.  William 
and  Sarali  (Rice)  Trowbridge  ;  one,  Judith,  born  in  1777,  mar- 
ried Walter  Bigelow,  senior;  Mary,  born  in  1783,  married 
Dea.  Alpheus  Merrifield  ;  Beulah,  born  in  1787,  married  Dea. 
Moses  Clements  ;  Acsah,  born  in  1796,  married  Dea.  Lewis 
Cliapin  ;  and  Huldah,  born  in  1798,  married  in  1828,  Halsey 
Riley,  after  whose  death  she  married  Dea.  Adolphus  Baylies ; 
all  w^ell-known  residents  of  Worcester,  now  deceased,  leaving 
many  descendants. 

William  Trowbridge,  jr.,  born  in  1790,  married  Dolly  Chapin, 
(cousin  of  Dea.  Lewis  Chapin,)  and  settled  in  Sheboygan,  Wis., 
wliere  he  is  still  living  in  his  87th  year.  His  fatlier.  Deacon 
William  Trowbridge,  was  grandfather  of  our  enterprising  fel- 
low citizen,  William  T.  Merrifield,  and  first  started  business  at 
Trowbridgeville  nearly  one  hundred  years  ago,  occupying  the 
old  mansion  house  and  mill  now  there. 


^:'^>V?^#v' 


i^fer 


CHAPTER     V  . 

Earlier  Settlers, — fae   Eigelo.v,   Goulding,  Stowell  and  Jennisou   f.imilies,  and   their   connexions 
and  descendants. 

The  Bigelow  Family. 

Daniel  Bigelow,  surveyor  of  highways,  on  tlie  first  board  of 
town  officers,  whose  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wliitncy,  came  from 
Watertowii  and  settled  on  Pakachoag  Hill  in  the  edge  of  Au- 
burn, where  he  died,  at  tlie  great  age  of  92  years.  His  loca- 
ation  adjoined  that  of  Gershom  Rice,  his  dwelling  being  on  a 
very  high  elevation  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of 
Samuel  P.  Perry,  on  the  old  road  to  Auburn  about  fifty  rods 
northeast  of  that  of  Gershom  Rice.  The  original  house  long 
since  disappeared.  Daniel  Bigelow  had  five  children :  1st, 
David,  a  leading  man  in  town  affairs  during  the  Revolution, 
delegate  to  Provincial  Assemblies,  &c.,  father  of  the  late  Wal- 
ter Bigelow,  and  grandfather  of  the  present  Walter  Bigelow, 
residing  on  Burncoat  street ;  2d,  Nathaniel ;  3d,  Daniel,  father 
of  the  third  Daniel  Bigelow  who  was  representative,  senator, 
executive  councillor,  and  county  attorney;  4,  Col.  Timothy 
Bigelow,  of  revolutionary  fame ;  5,  Silence,  for  many  years 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  here. 

David  Bigelow,  born  in  1731,  w\as  Deacon  of  the  First  Unita- 
rian Church  from  its  first  organization  in  1785,  and  resided  in 
the  north  east  part  of  the  town,  on  the  late  William  Coe  farm, 
on  Mountain  street,  near  the  corner  of  Nixon  street,  on  one  of 
the  old  highways  from  Woncester  and  Shrewsbury  to  West 
Boylston  and  Holden.  Here  he  began  keeping  a  hotel  about 
1772,  and  it  was  continued  in  the  family  for  half  a  century  or 
more  by  himself  and  his  son  Silas  Bigelow.  Dea.  David  Bige- 
low died  May  20,  1810,  aged  79.  His  first  wife  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1752,  was  Sarah  Eaton,  and  his  second  wife  whom  he 
married    in    1764,  was   Deborah    Hey  wood,   sister    of    Judge 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  45 

Benjamin  Heywood.  Deborah  died  in  1822,  aged  87.  Deacon 
David  Bigelow  had  six  sons  and  five  daugliters,  of  whom  the 
oldest,  David,  married  a  Willington,  and  was  father  of  the  late 
Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow.  The  other  five  sons  were, — Levi,  who 
married  Nancy  Goodhue  and  removed  to  Vermont ;  Walter, 
who  married  a  daughter  of  Dea.  William  Trowbridge  ;  Tyler, 
father  of  Chief  Justice  George  T.  Bigelow  ;  and  Silas,  who 
married  Arathusa  Moore.  The  five  daughters  were  Avives  re- 
spectively of  Zachariah  Child  of  West  Boylston, (father  of  David 
Lee  Child,)  Joshua  Harrington,  John  Hair,  William  Goulding, 
and  William  Chamberlain  of  Worcester,  the  latter  being  father 
of  Mrs.  Elisha  Flagg. 

One  daughter  of  Walter  Bigelow,  senior,  Sarah,  named  after 
her  grandmother,  Sarah  (Rice)  Trowbridge,  married  the  late 
Capt.  John  Barnard  ;  another  daughter  married  the  late  George 
C.  Davis  of  Northborough  ;  a  son  Andrew,  wiio  entered  Har- 
vard College,  and  was  instructor  in  an  Academy,  died  young. 

The  second  Daniel  Bigelow,  (brother  of  Deacon  David  Big- 
elow,) was  born  in  1729,  and  died  Aug.  29, 1776,  aged  48.  By 
his  first  wife,  (Mary  Bond,)  he  had  Daniel,  born  in  1752,  a 
distinguished  lawyer,  senator,  councillor,  &c.,  who  died  at  Pe- 
tersham in  1806,  aged  54.  By  a  second  wife  he  had  five  other 
children. 

Capt.  George  Bigelow  of  the  L^nited  States  army,  son  of 
Tyler  Bigelow,  married  the  only  daughter  of  Gov.  George  N. 
Briggs. 

Among  the  children  of  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow,  was  the  late  Dr. 
Henry  Bigelow  of  Newton, 

Col.  Timothy  Bigelow  was  born  Aug.  12,  1739,  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade,  and  left  his  forge  and  iron  works,  built  by  him- 
self on  the  site  of  the  recent  Court  Mills,  in  the  rear  of  his 
residence,  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country,  from  which  he 
returned  in  such  impaired  health  that  he  died  March  31,  1790, 
at  the  early  age  of  50.  He  w^as  a  natural  soldier,  and  per- 
formed extraordinary  service  as  commander  of  the  old  Fif- 
teenth Massachusetts  Regiment  of  the  Continental  line.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  of  the  original  lo- 
cal Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Worcester,  wdio,  as  early 


46  Meminiscences   of  Worcester. 

as  March,  ITTo,  organized  the  "  American  Political  Society" 
licre,  which  embraced  the  leading  patriots  of  the  time,  and  did 
so  much  to  bring  about  that  revolution  of  public  sentiment 
which  expelled  the  adherents  of  the  crown  and  made  the  war 
for  liberty  a  success.  The  secret  meetings  of  the  *'  Sons  of 
Liberty,"  to  concert  measures  for  public  action,  were  often  held 
at  his  dwelling.  Pie  was  associated  Avitli  Warren,  Otis,  and 
Adams,  and  other  eminent  movers  in  the  revolutionniy  cause, 
and  a  delegate  to  tlie  first  and  second  Provincial  Congresses, 
and  organized  and  trained  the  company  of  "  minute  men  " 
whom  he  led  to  the  field  with  such  tliorough  precision  in  drill 
as  to  extort  admiration  from  General  Washington  for  their  per- 
fection in  military  discipline.  Col.  Bigelow  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  with  Gen.  Warren  and  ethers  in  the  steps  taken 
to  induce  Isaiah  Thomas  to  establish  an  organ  of  the  patriot 
cause  in  Worcester,  and  it  was  through  the  aid  and  intluence 
of  Col.  Bigelow  and  Gen.  Warren  that  Isaiah  Thomas  was  en- 
abled to  remove  safely  from  Boston  to  Worcester,  the  press 
and  types  of  the  ''  Massachusetts  Spy,"  a  few  days  before  the 
battle  of  Lexington. 

Col.  Bigelow  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Samuel  Andrews, 
the  wife  of  the  latter  being  Anna  Rankin,  daughter  of  James 
and  Rachel  (Irving)  Rankin,  emigrants  from  Ireland  witli  the 
Scotch  Presbyterians  of  1718.  Samuel  Andrews  was  one  of 
the  early  comers  here,  consummating  his  marriage  immediately 
after  his  graduation  at  Cambridge,  and  locating  first  on  Plant- 
ation street  near  the  western  border  of  Lake  Quinsigamond. 
Here  he  cultivated  a  small  farm  for  several  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  the  village,  where  he  erected  a  tannery,  on  the  south 
side  of  Lincoln  Square,  and  in  1749,  built  his  residence  on  Main 
street,  opposite  the  Court  House.  This  old  mansion  house, 
now  standing  on  Prospect  street,  was  occupied  by  him,  and 
subsequently  by  his  son-in-law.  Col.  Bigelow,  and  the  latter's 
son-in-law.  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln.  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury 
purchased  the  estate  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Lincoln  in  1824, 
and  in  1833,  erected  the  present  brick  block  on  the  site  of  the 
old  structure. 

Of  Col.  Bigelow's  six   children,  the   oldest,  Xancy,  married 
Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  was  chairman  of   the  board  of  Sc- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  47 

loctinoii  and  Representative  in  the  Legislature  for  fifteen  years 
from  1809  to  1824,  besides  filling  other  prominent  positions, 
and  a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  July  2,  1824  ;  the  second  was  Hon.  Timothy  Bigelow, 
born  in  1767,  who  graduated  at  Cambridge,  studied  law  here 
with  his  uncle,  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  8r.,  and  with  Hon.  Samuel 
Dexter,  removed  to  Grotou,  and  subsequently  to  Medford,  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Judge  Oliver  Prescott  of  Groton,  became 
a  distinguished  practitioner  at  the  bar  in  Boston,  was  for  twen- 
ty years  a  member  of  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the  State 
Legislature,  for  eight  years  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, was  a  delegate  from  Massachusetts  with  Harrison 
Gray  Otis  of  Boston,  Daniel  Waldo  of  Worcester,  and  others, 
in  the  famous  Hartford  Convention  of  1814,  Executive  Coun- 
cillor in  1802  and  1820,  and  died  at  Medford,  May  18,  1821, 
aged  55.  The  youngest  child  of  Col.  Bigelow,  Clara,  married 
her  cousin,  Tyler  Bigelow,  and  Hon.  George  T.  Bigelow,  late 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  is  their  son. 

Of  the  seven  children  of  Hon.  Timothy  Bigelow,  above  men- 
tioned, the  oldest,  Katherine,  married  Hon.  Abbott  Lavvi-ence 
of  Boston  ;  the  second,  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Bigelow,  is  still  living 
in  Boston;  and  the  third,  Hon.  John  Prescott  Bigelow,  was 
Mayor  of  Boston,  and  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

A  fitting  monument  to  Col.  Bigelow  was  erected  over  his 
grave  on  the  old  Worcester  Common,  in  18G1,  by  his  great- 
grandson,  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow  Lawrence,  son  of  Hon.  Ab- 
bott Lawrence  of  Boston,  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of 
which,  April  19,  18(31,  just  86  years  from  the  day  Col.  Bige- 
low led  the  Minute  Men  from  Worcester  to  march  for  Lexinir- 
ton,  and  71  years  after  his  death,  appropriate  memorial  exer- 
cises took  place. 

Joshua  Bigelow,  a  brother  or  near  relative  of  the  above  men- 
tioned original  Daniel  Bigelow,  married  in  Watertown  in  1776, 
Elizabeth  Flagg,  a  sister  or  near  relative  of  the  first  Benjamin 
Flagg  of  Worcester,  served  as  a  soldier  and  was  wounded  in 
King  Philip's  War,  and  received  therefor  a  grant  of  land  in 
Worcester.  He  removed  to  Westminster  in  1742,  where  he 
died  in  1745,  aged  90.     His  ninth  child,  Ebenezer,  was  a  car- 


48  Reminiscences    of  Worceste7\ 

penter  in  Worcester  in  17*28.  The  Joshua  Bigelow,  who  was 
a  prominent  man  in  Worcester  during  the  Hevohition,  as  select- 
man, representative,  delegate  to  Provincial  Assemblies,  &c.,  and 
John  Bigelow,  who  was  an  mnholder  of  Worcester  for  several 
years  previous  to  1740,  and  foreman  of  the  Grand  Jury  in  1749, 
were  probably  sons  of  the  first  Joshua  Bigelow ;  and  the  late 
Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow,  (son  of  Elisha  Bigelow  of  Westminster,) 
Avho  came  here  from  Leominster  in  1817,  was  undoubtedly  of 
tliis  branch  of  the  family. 

There  was  a  Thaddeus  Bigelow,  born  in  Worcester  about 
1726,  who  is  claimed  by  his  descendants  to  have  been  a  son  of 
the  original  Daniel.  He  removed  from  Worcester  to  Rutland 
April  6,  1798,  and  died  there  Jan.  1,  1810,  aged  about  84.  He 
married  Rebecca  Warren  of  Worcester,  and  had  three  children, 
Joseph,  John  and  Lydia,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the  father  of 
Hon.  J.  Warren  Bigelow  of  Rutland.  John  married  a  Miss 
Howard  and  removed  to  Livermore,  Me.,  wliere  he  has  descend- 
ants. Joseph  Bigelow,  born  in  1770,  married  Annis  Pike  of 
Worcester  for  his  first  wife,  and  Bathsheba  Reed  of  Rutland 
for  his  second  wife,  and  died  in  Rutland  in  1854,  aged  84.  Jo- 
seph had  ten  children,  of  whom  Levi,  born  in  1795,  married 
Tabitha  Maynard,  and  died  in  Rutland  in  1863  ;  Rufus,  born 
in  1797,  married  Sarah  Hill,  aud  resided  in  Boston  ;  Sally, 
born  in  1799,  married  Rufus  Buxton  ;  Betsy  R.,  born  in  1806, 
married  Nathaniel  Taylor  ;  John  Warren,  born  in  1808,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Temple,  and  resides  in  Rutland,  having-  been  for 
maiiy  3"enrs  past  County  Commissioner,  and  occupied  other 
prominent  positions  ;  Mary  Ann,  born'ln  1812,  married  Calvin 
Stone. 

The  Goulding  Family. 

Capt.  Palmer  Goulding  came  here  from  Boston,  about  1718, 
and  settled  in  the  north  precinct,  afterwards  Hold  en,  wliere  he 
died  Feb.  11,  1770,  aged  75,  and  was  buried  on  the  old  Wor- 
cester Common  burial  ground.  He  Avas  prominently  engaged 
in  the  French  and  Indian  Wars,  and^commanded^a'company  at 
the  reduction  of  Louisburg,  June  17,  1745.  Among  their 
children  were  :  Ist^^Palmer,  Jr.,  born  about  1723,  also  captain, 
and    father  of    Dan[cl   Goulding  ;  2d,  Ignatius,  who   married 


Remhiiscences  of    Worcester.  49 

Elizabeth,  dcau<>litcr  of  Zebadiali  Rice,  (sou  of  James  Rice  ;) 
8d,  Peter,  father  of  Clark  Goulding,  among  the  children  of  the 
latter,  wlio  resided  near  Tatnuck,  being  Henry,  Eli,  Peter,  and 
Frederick  Goulding  of  Worcester,  the  four  last  named  being 
born  between  1800  and  1828  ;  4th,  Abel  Goulding,  born  in  1738, 
who  married  Keziah  Johnson  of  Southborough,  resided  on 
Millstone  Hill  in  Worcester,  and  died  in  Shrewsbury  in  1817. 
Among  the  children  of  the  latter,  is  the  venerable  John  Gould- 
ing, mechanical  inventor,  of  this  city,  now  in  his  87th  year, 
whose  sister  Martha  married  William  Rice,  brother  of  the 
wife  of  Clark  Goulding  above  mentioned.  John  Goulding's  sis- 
ter Lucy,  married  John  Miller,  father  of  Henry  AV.  Miller. 
William  Rice's  cousin,  Esther  Rice,  daughter  of  Lemuel 
Rice,  keeper  of  the  old  stone  jail  and  jail  tavern  at  Lincoln 
Square,  from  1790  to  1798,  married  in  1783,  the  celebrated 
Benjamin  Russell  afterwards  of  the  Boston  "  Columbian  Centi- 
nel,"  who  previous  to  1783  worked  as  a  printer  for  Isaiah 
Thomas  in  Worcester,  in  the  office  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy, 
where  he  learned  his  trade. 

Clark  Goulding,  (mentioned  above,)  married  Prudence, 
daughter  of  Luke  Rice  of  Shrewsbury,  and  of  their  daughters, 
Abigail,  born  in  1799,  married  Elisha  Chaffin ;  Harriet,  born 
1801,  married  Ebenezer  Dana;  Lucy,  born  in  1807,.  married 
Jason  Chapin  ;  and  Fanny,  born  in  1816,  married  Gardner 
Childs  ;  all  residents  of  Worcester. 

Capt.  Palmer  Goulding,  Jr.,  who  married  Abigail,  daughter 
of  Dea.  Daniel  Hcywood,  resided  east  of  the  Common,  on 
Front  street,  between  Salem  Square  and  Trumbull  street.  He 
built  for  his  son  Daniel,  nearly  one  hundred  years  ago,  the  old 
Bigelow  mansion  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  but  pecuni- 
ary embarrassments  obliged  the  son  to  lose  possession  of  it,  and 
it  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied,  among  others,  by  George 
Merriam,  father  of  George  and  Charles  Merriam  of  Spring- 
field, who  had  a  bookstore  in  Worcester  for  many  years  in  the 
old  ''  Compound,"  so  called.  The  late  Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow, 
formerly  member  of  Congress,  and  for  a  long  time  Clerk  of  the 
Courts  for  this  County,  purchased  the  estate  in  1817,  and  re- 
sided there  until  h.is  death  in  1860,  aged  85  ;  and  liis  family 
7 


59  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

lived  there  for  many  years  afterwards,  tlie  old  house  being  iioav 
occupied  as  a  free  dispensary  by  the  city. 

After  Capt.  Goulding's  dejith  in  1792,  his  son  Daniel  occu- 
pied tlie  father's  homestead  until  it  was  converted  into  a  hotel 
about  1820,  by  Nathaniel  Eaton,  who  kept  it  until  his  death  in 
1833,  after  which  time  the  hotel  there  was  continued  by  Aaron 
Howe,  John  Bradley,  and  Hiram  Billings.  The  old  building 
was  removed  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  Salem  st.  Church 
in  1818,  and  the  old  structure,  built  probably  nearly  a  century 
and  a  half  ago,  now  stands  in  a  remarkably  good  state  of  pres- 
ervation on  the  westerly  side  of  Tremont  street. 

The  first  Palmer  Goulding,  (who  married  xibigail,  daughter 
of  Timothy  Rice,  at  Concord,  in  1722,)  was  son  of  Peter  Gould- 
ing, one  of  the  proprietors  of  Worcester  at  the  second  attempt 
at  settlement  in  1684.  After  the  dispersion  here  by  the  Indians, 
he  resided  at  Sudbury,  where  he  died  in  1703.  His  estate,  con- 
sisting of  lands  at  Worcester  and  Hassanamisco,  (Grafton,) 
and  the  usual  personal  property  of  a  farmer  at  Sudbury,  was 
appraised  at  £255,  17s.  He  seems  to  have  been  only  a  so- 
journer at  Sudbuiy,  waiting  an  opportunity  to  re-occupy  in 
safety  his  land  at  Worcester,  in  the  meantime  following  his 
business  of  farmer  and  shoemaker,  when  death  arrived  ten 
years  before  the  beginning  of  the  permanent  settlement  of 
Worcester.  Peter  Goulding  married  for  his  second  wife,  Sarah 
Palmer,  sister  of  Thomas  Palmer,  who  figured  so  largely  as 
proprietor  of  lands,  with  Cornelius  Waldo  and  others,  in  the 
early  history  of  this  town.  By  her  he  had  twelve  of  his  fifteen 
children,  of  whom  the  fifth,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1673,  married 
Judge  William  Jennison.  The  ninth,  John,  born  in  1682,  mar- 
ried Abigail  Curtis,  daughter  of  Joseph  Curtis  of  Watertown 
and  Sudbury,  her  father  being  the  brother  of  the  valiant  and 
intrepid  Ephraim  Curtis,  the  first  white  settler  in  Worcester  in 
1673.  John  was  a  captain,  a  man  of  great  size  and  almost 
superhuman  strength,  and  died  at  Holliston  in  1750.  Another 
brother,  Peter,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  settled  in  Worcester  in 
1718,  on  a  fifty  acre  lot  on  Plantation  street  near  Bloomingdale 
road,  which  he  occupied  three  years,  and  then  removed  to 
South  Carolina.     The  youngest  of  these  fifteen   children   was 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester,  51 

the  first  Capt.  Palmer  Colliding  above  mentioned,  who  was 
named  for  his  uncle,  Thomas  Palmer.  He  was  a  "cordwain- 
er,"  came  to  Worcester  just  previous  to  the  first  organization 
of  the  town,  and  before  settling  in  the  north  precinct,  where  he 
passed  the  latter  portion  of  his  days,  built  the  house  east  of  the 
Common  Avhere  his  son  Palmer,  Jr.,  and  grandson  Daniel,  af- 
terwards lived.  They  all  successively  carried  on  tlie  business 
of  tanning,  shoemaking,  making  malt,  curing  hams,  <fec.,  on  an 
extended  scale  for  those  days.  Their  place  of  business  was  in 
front  of  their  dwelling,  occupying  grounds  between  what  are 
now  Front,  Mechanic,  Church  and  Spring  streets,*  Daniel  being 
also  a  manufacturer  of  earthen  ware.  In  their  dwelling,  Rich- 
ard Rogers  in  1732  was  employed  by  the  town  to  keep  school. 
Tradition  represents  the  earlier  Gouldings  to  have  been  of  ex- 
treme size,  very  ingenious,  and  •'  capable  of  doing  anything." 

As  soon  as  the  earliest  settlers  had  completed  their  meeting- 
house, the  first  one  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  Old 
South  Church,  Capt.  Palmer  Goulding,  senior,  was  placed  on  a 
committee  to  seat  the  meeting,  and  was  included  with  Adam 
Winthrop,  Thomas  Palmer,  and  thirteen  others  of  the  aristoc- 
racy to  whom  pews  were  allowed.  He  was  repeatedly  chosen 
to  various  town  offices.  Succeeding  to  the  large  estates  of  his 
father  Peter  here,  he,  as  well  as  his  son  and  grandson,  were 
extensive  landed  proprietors,  the  two  Palmers  owning  at  one 
time  immese  tracts  of  land  extending  nearly  all  the  way  from 
Worcester  Common  and  Pine  Meadow  to  old  Sutton  line. 

Capt.  Palmer  Goulding,  Jr.,  had  eight  children,  born  between 
1751  and  178  ),  most  of  whom  died  young.  Daniel,  the  oldest, 
was  born  Sept.  20,  1752,  and  died  Jan.  12,  1834,  aged  81. 
Among  other  positions  he  held  was  that  of  Selectman  four 
years,  and  Town  Clerk  twelve  years,  between  1781  and  1798. 
He  commanded  a  troop  of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Lincoln,  to  put 
down  the  Shays  Rebellion,  in  January,  1787. 

*  Previous  to  1786,  these  works  may  have  been  located  in  the  rear  of  the 
residence  of  the  Gouldings,  as  the  ministerial  land  originally  included  the 
spot  alluded  to  in  the  text.  In  1786,  thirteen  acres  of  this  ministerial  land, 
includinci;  all  the  territory  north  of  Front  street  and  west  of  Mill  Brook, 
nearly  as  far  as  what  are  now  Carlton,  Norwich,  Waldo  and  Exchange 
streets,  was  sold  by  the  town  the  Gouldings  being  the  heaviest  purchas- 


oz  Beminiscences  of    Woi^cestcr 


.9 


Ignatius  Goukling,  (brother  of  Capt.  Palmer,  Jr..)  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  built  the  first  Unitarian  meeting-house* 
here  in  1791,  and  died  in  Phillipston  in  1814,  aged  80.  Ot  his 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  Patty,  born  in  1761,  married 
Jonatlian  Moore  of  Holden  ;  William,  born  in  1768,  married 
Lucretia,  daughter  of  Dea.  David  Bigelow  of  Worcester,  and 
was  father  of  the  late  Charles  Goulding  ;  Lucretia,  born  in 
1772,  married  William  Dodge  of  Holden  ;  Col.  Ignatius,  Jr., 
born  in  1774,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Col.  Samuel  Damon 
of  Holden,  and  was  very  prominent  in  town  affairs,  represent- 
ing Phillipston  in  the  General  Court,  State  Convention  of 
18^20,  &c. 

Peter  Goulding,  (brother  of  Palmer,  Jr.,  Ignatius,  senior, 
and  Abel,)  was  a  carpenter,  and  was  killed  Ijy  falling  from  a 
building  he  was  framing,  July  17,  1790,  aged  53.  He  married 
Lucy  Brewer,  and  of  their  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  Clark, 
born  in  1768,  died  in  1829  ;  Lucy,  born  in  1770,  married  Na- 
tlian  Gates  ;  Patty,  born  in  1772,  married  Clark  Johnson  ; 
Lucinda,  born  in  1774,  married  Timothy  Johnson  ;  Sally,  born 
in  1780,  married  Reuben  Scott ;  Zurilla,  born  in  1781,  married 
a  Mr.  Coleman  ;  Levi,  born  in  1787.  married  Sally  Harrington, 
and  removed  to  New  Orleans. 

Col.  John  Goulding,  tanner,  born  in  1726,  who  married  Lucy 
Brooks  of  Concord  and  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  Graf- 
ton, where  he  died  in  1791,  was  another  son  of  the  senior  Capt. 
Palmer  Goulding.  Col.  John's  son,  John,  Jr.,  born  in  1760, 
married  Ruth  Chamberlain  ;  and  his  daughter,  Molly,  born  in 
1762,  married  Aaron  Kimball. 

The  present  John  Goulding,  born  in  1791,  a  nephew  of  Capt. 
Palmer,  Jr.,  is  deserving  of  mention  as  a  man  of  remarkable 
o-enius  for  mechanical  invention.  His  patents  date  back  as  far 
as  1826,  and  he  is  still  getting  up  new  and  important  ones  at 
his  advanced  age,  being  yet  vigorous  as  a  man  twenty  years  his 
junior.  He  is  the  inventor  of  power  machinery  for  working 
all  kinds  of  fabrics,  particularly  woolen  goods,  and  the  appli- 
cation of  his  inventions  has  entirely  changed  the  method  of 
making  woolen  goods,  and  enabled  the  manufacturers  of  this 

*Xow  the  Summer  St.  School  House. 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  53 

country  to  sustain  themselves  and  compete  witli  the  old  world. 
In  1862  he  had  an  immense  law  suit  with  certain  heavy  manu- 
facturers who  infringed  his  patents,  got  his  case,  and  realized 
$75,000  by  a  sale  he  was  obliged  to  make.  Since  that  time, 
parties  using  his  patent  have  realised  nearly  a  million  dollars 
therefrom,  while  he  is  left  in  very  moderate  circumstances  as 
compared  with  his  deserts.  Mr.  Goulding  is  now  engaged  on 
an  important  invention  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods. 

The  Stowell  Family. 

Cornelius  Stowell,  who  came  here  soon  after  the  town  was 
organized,  married  Sevilla,  sister  of  the  second  Capt.  Palmer 
Goulding,  and  located  near  him,  on  the  west  corner  of  Park 
and  Orange  streets,  residing  on  the  very  spot  still  occupied 
by  his  granddaughters.  Cornelius  Stowell  was  a  clothier 
by  trade,  and  started  more  than  a  century  ago  that  business  in 
Worcester,  in  all  its  branches,  his  shop  being  on  the  opposite 
corner  of  Orange  street,  in  the  building  afterwards  owned  and 
occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  the  late  Willard  Brown,  now  stand- 
ing on  the  west  side  of  Washington  street,  to  which  place  it 
was  removed  when  Mr.  Brown  erected  his  new  dwelling  upon 
its  site,  now  occupied  by  his  son.  Cornelius  Stowell  afterwards 
took  his  sons,  Peter  and  Ebenezer,  into  partnership  with  him, 
about  1790,  when  they  began  the  business  of  manufacturing 
woolen  goods,  and  printing  calicos,  making  a  specialty  of  weav- 
ing carpets,  dyeing  and  dressing  woolen  goods  at  the  same 
time.  They  had  two  fulling  mills,  and  dyed  fine  scarlet  and 
deep  blue  colors  in  the  best  manner.  They  also  built  shearing- 
machines.  At  one  time  they  had  six  looms  of  their  own  inven- 
tion and  construction  in  operation.  The  quality  of  their  work 
may  be  judged  by  the  fact  that  they  made  the  first  carpets  used 
in  the  present  State  House  in  Boston.  Peter's  brother,  Abel, 
the  old  clockmaker  of  the  last  century,  who  made  the  present 
clocks  in  the  Old  South  Church  tower  and  in  the  old  Worces- 
ter Bank,  had  his  residence  and  shop  on  the  west  corner 
of  Park  and  Salem  streets.  Peter  and  Abel  Stowell  married  sis- 
ters, daughters  of  Capt.  Israel  Jennison,  and  the  latter's  sonWil- 
liam  married  a  dauditer  of  Cornelius  Stowell.    The  house  occu- 


54  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

pied  by  Abel  Stowell  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by 
tlie  late  William  Harrington  as  a  hotel  from  about  1820  to  1836 
when  Mr. Harrington,  w4io  married  a  daughter  of  Peter  Stowell, 
built  his  new  residence  on  Portland  street,  where  he  afterwards 
resided.  The  liotel  occupied  by  Mr.  Harrington  was  continued 
a  short  time  by  N.  R.  Tilton  and  others,  and  then  occupied  as 
a  dwelling,  other  structures  having  long  since  occupied  its  site. 

Cornelius  Stowell  was  born  in  Watertown  Sept.  13,  1724, 
being  the  youngest  son  of  Samuel  Stowell,  clothier,  w^ho  mar- 
ried in  Watertown,  in  1714,  Sarah  ,  had  three  sons  and 

six  daughters,  and  died  March  12, 1748,  in  that  part  of  Water- 
town  now  Waltham.  Cornelius,  who  came  to  AVorcester  sev- 
eral years  previous,  was  married  here  March  22,  1749,  at  the 
age  of  25.  He  died  here  Jan.  3,  1804,  aged  79,  and  his  wid- 
ow Sevilla  June  7,  1812,  aged  82.  They  had  six  sons  and  five 
daughters,  born  between  1751  and  1774,  of  whom  Peter,  who 
married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Capt.  Israel  Jennison,  died  July 
10,  1810,  aged  48  ;  and  Abel,  who  married  Relief,  sister  of  his 
brother's  wife,  died  Aug.  3,  1818,  aged  QQ.  Ebenezer,  born  in 
1768,  after  being  in  company  in  business  here  for  several  years 
with  his  fatlier  and  brother  Peter,  removed  to  Siieldon,  Yt., 
where  he  di:d  Jan.  14,  1«49,  aged  81,  having  never  married. 
Another  brother,  Thomas,  born  in  1756,  w^ho  married  Anna 
Stone  from  Newton,  resided  on  the  old  Stowell  homestead  at 
Northville,  which  has  since  been  in  possession  of  the  family 
for  three  generations,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grand- 
son Frederick  T.  Stowell.  Thomas,  who  had  three  sons,  Thom- 
as, Samuel,  and  William,  died  in  1799,  aged  43. 

Samuel  Stowell,  who  succeeded  to  the  old  homestead  of  his 
father  in  Northville,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Fred- 
erick T.,  died  Feb.  20,  1849,  aged  79.  His  wife  was  a  sister 
of  the  late  Henry  Hey  wood,  and  the  latter  married  a  sister  of 
Samuel  Stowell.  Frederick's  brother,  Francis  P.  Stowell,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  the  late  Willard  Brown,  resides  on  the 
corner  of  Salisbury  and  Forest  streets,  on  what  used  to  be  the 
Willard  Moore  place,  and  site  of  the  old  "  Cow  Tavern." 

Thomas  Stowell,  Jr.,  w^as  a  clothier,  continuing  the  business 
of  his  father  for  a  while  at  Northville,  after  which   he   carried 


lieminiscences  of    Worcester,  55 

on  the  same  business  for  a  short  time  at  Soutli  Worcester,  sold 
out  about  1818  to  John  Hubbard  and  others,  and  went  to  Bur- 
lington, Vt.,  where  he  afterwards  resided  and  died  about  fif- 
teen years  ago.  His  brother  William,  who  married  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  Chamberlain  of  Millbury,  started  over  sixty  years 
ago  the  business  of  building  carding  machines,  in  a  building 
still  standing  on  the  south  side  of  Lincoln  street  between  the 
Curtis  farm  and  the  French  Catholic  Cemetery.  He  afterwards 
removed  his  business  to  South  Worcester,  in  the  old  fulling  mill 
previously  occupied  by  his  brother,  where  he  was  engaged  with 
Joshua  Hale  and  others.  He  removed  his  machinery  thence  to 
New  Worcester,  on  the  site  afterwards  occupied  L.  &  A.  G.  Coes. 
After  carrying  on  the  machinery  business  at  the  latter  place 
for  a  while,  WilUiam  Stowell  sold  out  nearly  fifty  years  ago  to 
William  M.  Bickford  and  others,  who  removed  the  business  to 
School  street.  Mr.  Stowell  afterwards  turned  his  attention  to 
removing  buildings,  and  resided  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Main  and  Austin  streets,  where  he  died,  Aug.  7,  1853,  aged  63. 

There  was  also  a  Benjamin  Stowell,  (son  of  John  Stowell,) 
who  came  to  Worcester  several  years  after  Cornelius,  and  one 
or  two  generations  back  may  have  been  of  the  same  family, 
from  Watertown.  Benjamin  married  here,  Oct.  23,  1755, 
Elizabeth  Parker,  daughter  of  Moses  Parker  of  Framingham, 
and  located  on  Granite  street,  residing  until  his  death,  Aug.  6, 
1803,  on  the  estate  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son, 
Dea.  Nathaniel  Stowell,  now  in  possession  of  his  grandson, 
Benjamin  F.  Stowell. 

Tlie  first  Benjamin  Stowell,  whose  wife  Elizabeth  died  March 
26,  1821,  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  born  between  1756 
and  1776,  of  whom  the  three  oldest  sons,  William,  Daniel, 
and  Elias,  resided  in  Paris,  Me.,  on  farms  given  them  by  their 
father,  from  the  extensive  grants  of  land  given  to  him  by  the 
government  for  services  rendered  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
William  died  in  1829,  Daniel  in  1828,  and  Elias  in  1839.  Elias 
married  a  sister  of  the  late  Capt.  Lewis  Barnard. 

Of  the  three  other  sons  of  this  Benjamin  Stowell,  the  oldest 
was  the  late  Dea.  Nathaniel  Stowell,  who  died  April  27,  1860. 
at  the   great  age  of  90.     He  had   been   deacon   of   the  First 


56  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

Baptist  Church  thirty-eight  years,  being  clioseu  to  that  posi- 
tion in  182*J  at  the  same  time  with  our  venerable  fellow-citizen, 
Dea.  Daniel  Goddard.  Besides  filling  other  prominent  posi- 
tions, Dea.  Stowell  was  six  years  a  member  of  the  board  of 
Selectmen  from  1816  to  1821,  and  representative  to  the  Gener- 
al Court  in  1830,  with  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow,  and  Otis  Corbett. 
He  married  in  1792  Katy  Bixby,  their  children  being  :  Leonard 
W.  Stowell,  who  married  a  sister  of  Dea.  Daniel  Goddard  ; 
Sophia,  wiio  married  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow ;  Almira,  who  mar- 
Capt.  Zenas  Studley ;  and  Amelia,  who  married  James  S. 
Woodworth.  By  his  second  wife,  Lucretia  Willard,  Dea.  Stow- 
ell had  two  sons,  David  D.  and  Benjamin  F.  Stowell.  David 
D.,  who  resided  upon  a  portion  of  the  ancestral  estate  with  his 
brother,  Benjamin  F.,  died  several  years  ago.  Maria,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Lewis  and  Sophia  Bigelow,  is  wife  of  Mason  H.  Morse. 
Dea  StowelTs  brother  David,  born  in  1773,  married  a  daughter 
of  the  late  Aaron  Flagg,  and  went  west,  where  he  died  in  1802. 
His  youngest  brother,  Benjamin,  was  a  graduate  of  Williams 
College  and  practised  law  in  Natchez,  Mississippi,  where  he 
died  unmarried,  leaving  his  property  to  his  brother  Nathaniel. 
There  was  also  a  Hezekiah  Stowell,  who  married  in  Worces- 
ter Nov.  24,  1758,  Persis  Rice,  (daughter  of  Adonijah  Rice, 
the  first  white  person  born  in  Worcester,)  but  he  did  not  prol)- 
ably  remain  here  long. 

The  Jennison  Family. 

William  Jennison,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  from  the 
first  organization  of  the  County  in  1731  to  his  death  in  1744, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Worcester,  and  a  town  officer 
for  many  years  from  1726.  He  came  here  from  Watertown 
with  his  brother  Samuel,  (who  was  great-great-grandfather  of 
the  late  Samuel  and  AVilliam  Jennison  of  Worcester,)  and  pur- 
chased an  extensive  tract  of  many  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
both  sides  of  the  country  road  in  the  vicinity  of  Lincoln  Square, 
including  all  Court  Hill  and  much  farther  west  and  both  sides 
of  Belmont  street.  He  gave  the  land  on  which  the  first  Court 
House  was  built  in  1732.     The  old  mansion  in  which  he  lived, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  57 

afterwards  the  residence  of  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske,  (uncle  of  tlie 
late  Samuel  and  William  Jennison,)  stood  a  few  feet  northwest 
of  the  present  residence  of  Harrison  Bliss,  from  which  spot  it 
was  removed  in  1846  when  State  street  was  opened.  This  an- 
cient architectural  relic  of  150  years  ago,  possesses  additional 
distinction  from  a  portion  of  it  having  heen  used  as  the  first 
county  jail,  the  first  prison  for  malefactors  being  in  its  rear 
part,  where,  with  the  consent  of  tlie  owner,  a  "  cage,"  so  called, 
for  prisoners,  was  constructed  in  1731,  and  used  for  that  pur- 
pose until  the  following  year,  when  the  "cage"  Avas  removed 
to  a  chamber  in  the  tavern-house  of  Dea.  Daniel  Hey  wood, 
corner  of  Main  and  Exchange  streets,  another  old  landmark 
of  the  past,  before  referred  to,  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling  on 
Salem  street.  In  this  building  the  ''  cage  "  remained  until  the 
first  jail  was  built  on  Lincoln  street,  in  1733,  about  opposite 
the  old  gas  house. 

Judge  Jennison  married  Elizabeth  Goulding,  sister  of  Capt. 
Palmer  Goulding,  senior,  and  had  one  son  and  five  daughters. 
His  son  was  Rev.  Samuel  Jennison,  born  in  1701,  who  preached 
as  a  candidate  in  Rutland  in  1721,  and  died  unmarried  in  1729. 
His  daughter,  Lydia,  born  in  1706,  married  Luke  Brown  from 
Sudbury,  who  began,  about  1745,  keeping  the  old  tavern  on  the 
west  side  of  Lincoln  street,  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Hancock 
Arms,"  which  was  continued  in  the  family  for  three  genera- 
tions. The  first  Luke  died  of  small  pox  in  1772,  aged  58  ;  his 
son  Luke  and  grandson  Samuel,  continued  the  hotel  till  near 
the  close  of  the  century,  after  whom  Benjamin  Butman,  senior, 
Joel  Howe,  William  Chamberlain,  Capt.  Simeon  Duncan, 
and  others  kept  it.  After  being  unoccupied  for  several  years, 
the  old  structure  w^as  burned  in  1824.  The  name  formerly 
given  to  it  was  in  consequence  of  its  being  the  headquarters  of 
the  patriots  during  the  stormy  times  just  preceding  the  Revo- 
lution, before  public  sentiment  had  become  united  here,  just  as 
the  name  of  "  King's  Arms"  was  given  to  the  hotel  kept  in 
another  place  by  a  brother-in-law  of  Luke  Brown,  because  of 
its  being  for  a  time  the  headquarters  of  the  tories,  before  the 
aroused  indignation  of  the  people  had  caused  a  destruction  of 
tlie  obnoxious  sign,  and  obliged  the  proprietor  to  change  the 
8 


58  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

name  of  the  hotel.  Tlie  name  latterly  given  to  tlie  old  "  Han- 
cock Arms  "  hotel,  was  the  ''Brown  &  Butmau  "  tavern,  from 
the  names  of  those  who  longest  kept  it. 

Judge  Jennison's  daughter,  Maiy,  horn  in  1708,  married  in 
1729,  Capt.  Thomas  Stearns,  son  of  John  Stearns,  an  original 
settler  here,  who  was  the  son  of  Charles  Stearns,  an  early  set- 
tler of  Watertown.  Thomas  and  Mary  Stearns  had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one,  William  Jennison  Stearns,  owned  and 
occupied  the  old  Rejoice  Newton  farm  one  mile  out  towards 
Tatnuc,  and  his  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Daniel  Fenno,  father 
of  the  late  William  D.  Fenno.  Capt.  Thomas  Stearns,  who 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  sexton  and  grave  digger  in  Wor- 
cester, began  about  1735,  keeping  a  public  house  in  an  old 
wooden  structure  which  stood  nearly  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Lincoln  House,  and  subsequently  called  the  *'  King's  Arms." 
Capt.  Stearns  died  in  1773,  and  the  hotel  was  continued  by  the 
widow  until  her  decease  in  1784,  when  the  estate  comprising 
about  eighty  acres  of  land,  extending  west  from  Main  street  as 
far  as  Sever  street,  and  bounded  northerly  by  land  of  Enoch 
and  Elisha  Flagg  and  Nathaniel  Maccarty,  was  purchased  by 
William  Sever,  who  came  to  Worcester  about  that  time  from 
Kingston,  and  married  Mary,  daughter  of  tlie  last  Judge 
Chandler.  Mr.  Sever  died  in  1798,  and  Mrs.  Sever  in  1821. 
The  late  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  who  married  their  daughter,  Pen- 
elope Winslow  Sever,  inherited  the  estate  in  right  of  his  wife, 
and  erected  a  little  southeast  of  the  old  dwelling,  some  sixty- 
five  years  ago,  the  main  part  of  the  present  Lincoln  House, 
which  he  occupied  as  his  residence  until  he  built  on  the  sum- 
mit of  Elm  street,  which  he  then  laid  out,  his  last  elegant  man- 
sion now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo 
Lincoln. 

This  William  Jennison  Stearns,  who  married  a  relative  of 
Samuel  Adams,  afterwards  resided  upon  the  estate  on  "  Bige- 
low  Lane,"  east  of  Lake  Quinsigamond,  where  the  dwelling- 
house  was  recently  burned.  His  farm  of  210  acres  on  Pleasant 
street,  including  Newton  Hill  and  land  on  both  sides  of  it,  was 
subsequently  owned  successively  by  Hon  Levi  Lincoln,  father 
and  son,  and  Maj.  Rejoice  Newton,  and  is  now  in  possession  of 


Reminiscences  of  Worses fer.  59 

Col.  John  W.  Wetliercll,  in  right  of  his  wife,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Maj.  Newton.  Wm.  Jennison  Stearns  died  in  1813, 
aged  74,  and  his  daughter,  Sarah  (Stearns)  Fenno,  mother  of 
the  late  William  D.  Fenno,  died  in  1863,  aged  93.  The  old 
mansion  house  of  this  Stearns  farm  on  Pleasant  street,  stood 
just  north  of  the  junction  with  Highland  street,  it  having  long 
since  gone  to  decay. 

Rev.  William  Jennision,  born  in  Watertown  in  1707,  (son  of 
Judge  Jennison's  brother  Samuel,)  was  a  school  teacher  in 
Worcester  a  few  years  anterior  to  1742,  preaching  alternate- 
ly on  supply  at  Holden,  Westborough,  and  other  places,  and 
afterwards  school  teacher  at  Watertown. 

Capt.  Israel  Jennison,  (son  of  the  Judge's  brother  Peter,) 
born  in  Sudbury  in  1713,  was  a  resident  here  as  early  as  1739, 
when  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Dea.  Daniel  Hey  wood, 
and  resided  on  the  estate  on  Lincoln  street  next  west  of  the 
City  Farm,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  the  first  John 
Barnard,  who  died  Sept.  17, 1830,  aged  87,  and  his  son  the  late 
Capt.  Lewis  Barnard,  who  died  April  2,  1853,  aged  73.  Capt. 
Jennison  was  a  retail  merchant,  and  kept  store  for  some  forty 
years  previous  to  his  death,  Sept.  19,  1782,  in  a  small  building 
but  a  few  years  since  destroyed,  which  stood  just  on  the  east 
corner  of  Lincoln  and  Boylston  streets.  After  his  death,  his 
store  business  was  continued  by  Nathaniel  Curtis,  brother  of 
his  son  Samuel's  wife,  and  Samuel,  about  the  same  time 
(1782)  opened  a  hotel  at  his  own  residence,  which  stood 
just  east  of  the  house  of  his  father.  This  hotel,  which  for 
many  years,  was  a  famous  place  of  resort,  especially  after  the 
closing  of  Capt.  John  Curtis'  hotel  a  little  farther  west  of  it  on 
the  same  street,  for  balls,  &c.,  was  kept  by  Samuel  Jennison 
for  some  thirty  years  until  his  death,  Nov.  18,  1815,  aged  70. 
This  hotel  was  continued  by  Adin  Ayres  and  Oliver  Eager, 
until  1819,  when  the  property  was  purchased  by  the  town 
of  Worcester  and  the  building  used  for  an  almshouse  un- 
til 1854,  at  which  latter  time  the  present  commodious  brick 
structure  since  used  for  an  almshouse  was  built  by  the  city,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  junction  of  Lincoln  and  Boylston  streets. 
The  old  Jennison  tavern  building,  the  cellar  hole  of  which  still 


60  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

remains,  was  torn  down  seven  or  eight  years  since  by  0.  A. 
Kelley,  Jr.,  the  present  owner  of  that  estate  and  of  the  old 
Barnard  estate  adjoining  it. 

The  keepers  or  superintendants  of  the  town  and  city  alms- 
house and  farm  located  at  that  historic  old  corner  and  former- 
ly celebrated  thoroughfare  of  travel  in  the  early  history  of  the 
town,  have  been,  from  1819  to  the  present  time,  in  succession 
as  follows  :  Luke  Gray,  Capt.  Peter  Slater,  Maj.  Samnel  Graves, 
George  H.  Knight,  Sumner  Harrington,  L.  B.  Drury,  and  John 
Farwell,  the  latter  having  now  officiated  about  twenty  years  in 
that  capacity. 

Of  Capt.  Israel  Jennison's  five  children,  one,  Relief,  born  in 
1754,  married  Abel  Stowell ;  another,  Betsey,  married  Peter 
Stowell,  brother  of  Abel  and  son  of  Cornelius  Stowell ;  and 
William,  born  in  1760,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Corne- 
lius Stowell. 

Capt.  Israel  Jennison's  brother  Samuel,  born  in  Sudbury  in 
1722,  who  came  here  with  his  brother,  married  in  1755,  Mary 
Hey  wood,  daughter  of  Phinehas  Hey  wood  of  Shrewsbury, 
where  they  resided  and  he  died  in  1704,  aged  81,  and  his  wife 
in  1820,  aged  87. 

After  Capt.  Jennison's  death  in  1782,  his  widow  Mary  (Hey- 
wood)  married  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler,  from  Harvard,  Register 
of  Probate  from  1776  till  his  death  in  1793. 

There  have  been  four  generations  of  the  Jennison  family 
resident  in  Worcester  within  the  last  150  years,  each  family  of 
the  four  having  in  it  a  Samuel  and  a  William,  brothers,  but  not 
descendants  of  those  immediately  preceding,  although  all  were 
descendants  of  the  original  Robert  Jennison,  who  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  Watertown  about  1635,  where  he  died 
July  4, 1686,  leaving  a  son.  Ensign  Samuel  Jennison,  who  mar- 
ried Judith  Macomber  in  Watertown  and  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  fifth  was  Judge  W^illiam  Jennison  mentioned  above. 
The  latter's  brother,  Samuel,  married  in  Watertown,  in  1669, 
Mary  Stearns,  daugliter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Manning) 
Stearns,  and  they  had  eleven  children  of  whom  the  second  son. 
Rev.  William  Jennison,  school  teacher,  who  died  at  Water- 
town  in  1750,  was  father  of  Dr.  William  Jennison  successively 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  61 

of  Mendon,  Douglas,  and  Brookfield.  Dr.  Jennison,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Staples  of  Mendon,  died  at  Brookfield  in  1798.  He 
was  a  zealous  supporter  of  the  Revolution,  and  a  member  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  from  Mendon  in  1774.  His  daughter, 
Mary,  married  Jonathan  Whipple  of  Uxbridge,  father  of  the 
twins,  "  Liberty  and  Independence  "  Whipple,  who  were  born 
Oct.  31, 1777,  while  the  country  was  rejoicing  over  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne,  the  children  being  so  named  in  accordance  with 
their  grandfather  Jennison's  urgent  request.  Of  Dr.  Jennison's 
sons,  William  and  Samuel,  who  were  graduates  of  Harvard 
College,  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  William  died 
at  Boston  in  1843,  aged  86  ;  and  Samuel,  who  married  Sally, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Fiske  of  Brookfield,  was  father 
of  the  late  brothers  Samuel  and  William  Jennison  of  W^orces- 
ter,  who  were  thus  of  the  seventh  generation  in  remove  from 
the  original  Robert.  Of  these  two  brothers,  Samuel  married 
a  granddaughter  of  William  Ellery  of  Rhode  Island,  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  W^illiam 
married  for  his  first  w^ife  a  daughter  of  Theophilus  Wheeler, 
Register  of  Probate  from  1793  to  1836. 


CHAPTER   YI. 

Earlier  Settlers — the  Chandler,  Paine,  Putnam  and  Upham  families  and  their  descendants. 

The  Chandler  Family. 

The  most  distinguished  and  influential  family  in  Worcester 
County  for  nearly  half  a  century  after  its  organization,  was 
that  of  tlie  Chandlers,  three  generations  of  whom  filled  the 
most  important  offices,  judicial,  civil,  and  military.  They  were 
descendants  of  Dea.  John  Chandler,  who  with  others  in  1086, 
emigrated  from  Roxbury  and  founded  Woodstock,  Ct.,  that 
town  being  then  included  within  the  limits  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  deacon  of  the  first  cliurch  there,  and  occupied  the  lead- 
ing positions  in  town  affairs  until  his  death.  His  son,  John 
Chandler,  who  inherited  the  strong  qualities  of  his  father  as 
well  as  his  patrimonial  estate,  acted  the  leading  part,  as  repre- 
sentative in  tlie  General  Court  and  otherwise,  in  the  formation 
of  the  County  of  Worcester,  within  whose  limits  W^oodstock 
was  included  .until  it  was  set  off  to  Connecticut  in  1748.  This 
second  John  Chandler  of  Woodstock  became  the  first  Judge  of 
Probate  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  and  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  this  county,  and 
he  and  his  son  and  grandson  of  the  same  name  continued  to 
liold  the  leading  offices,  both  civil  and  military,  in  the  county, 
from  its  first  organization  in  1731  to  1775.  The  second  Judge 
John  Chandler  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts  and  Register  of  Deeds 
until  he  succeeded  to  his  father's  judicial  positions,  and  the 
third  Judge  of  the  same  name,  who  was  eleven  years  old  when 
liis  father  came  here,  and  when  his  grandfather  first  assumed 
his  judicial  functions,  ascended  to  that  dignity  on  the  decease 
of  his  own  parent  in  1763,  when  he  became  Judge  of  Probate. 
The  first  Judge  Chandler,  who  died  in  1743,  retained  his  resi- 
dence in  Woodstock  ;  his  son  and  grandson  lived  in  Worcester, 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  63 

and  became  successively  with  other  members  of  the  family  occu- 
pants of  the  most  important  town  as  well  as  county  offices,  un- 
til the  Revolution  scattered  them,  their  sympathies  being  with 
the  mother  country  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  Their  confis- 
cated estates  comprised  a  vast  amount  of  the  most  valuable 
landed  property  in  the  county,  those  of  the  Judge  alone,  whose 
brother  the  Sheriff,  and  several  sons  were  included  in  the  ban, 
amounting  to  more  than  a  tliousand  acres  located  in  different 
sections  of  this  and  other  towns. 

The  Chandlers  became  connected  by  marriage  with  the  lead- 
ing families  of  the  town  and  county,  the  last  Judge  John 
Chandler,  termed  the  "  honest  refugee,"  who  died  in  London 
Sept.  26, 1800,  aged  80,  being  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Davis, 
Mrs.  Gov.  Lincoln,  and  lion.  George  Bancroft. 

The  residence  of  the  second  Judge  Chandler,  (the  first  who 
became  a  resident  of  Worcester,)  stood  on  the  easterly  side  of 
the  country  road  or  main  highway,  opposite  the  Court  House, 
on  the  site  of  Hon.  Edward  Earle's  residence,  his  estate  com- 
prising at  first  threehundred  acres  of  land  which  he  purchased 
in  March,  1732,  of  Judge  William  Jennison,  the  consideration 
paid  being  the  very  moderate  sum  of  ^45.  To  this  were  soon 
after  added  by  purchase  from  Thomas  Palmer,  Cornelius  Wal- 
do, and  others,  two  hundred  acres  northeasterly  of  Lincoln 
Square,  the  whole  constituting  an  estate  of  five  hundred  acres 
on  both  sides  of  what  is  now  Belmont  street,  not  then  laid  out. 
It  included  "  Chandler  Hill,"  a  portion  of  the  present  State 
Lunatic  Hospital  and  County  Jail  grounds,  and  the  land  on 
which  the  old  Antiquarian  Hall  and  Summer  street  scliool- 
house  now  stand.  This  vast  estate  remained  in  the  family  for 
three  generations,  the  last  of  them  to  own  and  occupy  it  being 
Charles  and  Samuel  Chandler,  (sons  of  the  last  Judge  John 
Chandler,)  who  were  engaged  in  business  together  here  as  mer- 
chants for  several  years  after  the  Revolution.  After  the  death,  in 
1813,  of  Samuel  Chandler,  the  last  one  of  the  family  who  oc- 
cupied his  grandfather's  old  homestead,  a  large  portion  of  it, 
bounded  on  the  west  and  north  by  Summer  and  Belmont  streets, 
and  including  the  dwelling,  was  purchased  by  Hon.  Francis 
Blake,  who  built  the  main  or  original  part  of  the  present  resi- 


64  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

deuce  of  Mr.  Earle,  attaching  thereto  the  old  Chandler  man- 
sion as  its  east  wing.  The  builder  of  the  new  stracture  was 
the  late  Walter  Bigelow,  senior.  Mr.  Blake,  dying  very  sud- 
denly in  1817,  before  he  had  moved  into  or  had  entirely 
completed  his  new  dwelling,  his  estate,  comprising  about  31 
acres,  was  purchased  by  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  who  sold  it  in 
1840  to  Hon.  Edward  Earle.  The  latter,  in  1855,  when  he  en- 
larged and  modernized  the  main  or  new  part  of  his  dwelling, 
removed  the  old  Chandler  mansion  part  of  it  to  its  present  lo- 
cation on  the  east  side  of  Fountain  street,  just  north  of  the 
Water  Cure. 

The  last  Judge  John  Chandler,  who  married,  in  1741,  a 
sister  of  Hon.  Timothy  Paine,  established  his  residence  on  the 
south  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  streets,  his  old  mansion 
being  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  as  a  hotel  by  Maj. 
Ephraim  Mower,  whose  sister  married  the  Judge's  son  Charles, 
The  Judge  had  a  store  building  and  ofiice  just  south  of  his 
residence,  on  "  Harrington  Corner,"  afterwards  known  as  the 
'•  Old  Compound,"  in  which  himself  at  first,  and  subsequently 
his  sons,  Clark,  Chaeles,  and  Samuel,  kept  store.  This  old 
structure,  originally  but  one  story  in  height,  in  which  numer- 
ous distinguished  merchants  have  kept  store,  and  many  eminent 
lawyers,  (including  Ex-Gov.  Emory  Washburn,)  have  had  their 
offices,  since  the  days  of  the  Chandlers,  now  stands  in  a  modi- 
fied and  mutilated  condition,  still  occupied  for  stores,  on  the 
north  side  of  Pleasant  street,  corner  of  Post  Office  avenue.  It 
had  a  double  roof  and  attic  story,  in  which  was  a  small  hall  for 
public  purposes.  The  present  basement  story  was  added  at 
the  time  of  its  removal  to  its  present  site,  the  upper  portion 
remaining  substantially  as  it  formerly  was,  with  the  exception 
of  putting  in  windows  where  the  doors  originally  were.  In 
the  cellar  where  it  first  stood,  were  stored  for  a  long  series  of 
years  the  choicest  wines  and  liquors,  large  quantities  of  which 
were  found  there  by  the  successors  of  the  Chandlers.  The 
Judge's  old  mansioi\  just  north  of  his  store,  built  by  him  in 
1711-2,  and  after  he  left  occupied  as  a  hotel  until  1818,  now 
stands  on  the  north  side  of  Meclianic  street,  opposite  Spring 
btrcet. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  65 

Among  tliG  earliest  of  the  many  extensive  purchases  of  real 
estate  by  the  Chandlers  here,  was  that  which  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  "Samuel  Ward"  and  '' Jaques  "  farm,  compris- 
ing 310  acres,  extending  back  north-westerly  from  Main  street, 
between  Austin  and  May  streets,  nearly  to  Beaver  Brook. 

The  Chandlers  of  this  country  are  descendants  of  William 
and  Annis  Chandler,  who  came  from  England  to  Roxbury  in 
1637,  when  their  son  John,  (afterwards  Dea.  John  Chandler, 
first  one  of  four  generations  bearing  that  name,)  was  two 
years  old.  Of  William  and  Annis  Chandler's  four  children 
who  came  with  them,  Thomas  and  William,  Jr.,  settled  in  An- 
dover,  about  1645.  John  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
William  Douglas,  who  settled  in  New  London,  Ct.  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Douglas)  Chandler  removed  from  Roxbury  to 
Woodstock  in  1686,  after  their  eight  children  were  born. 
Their  oldest  child,  John,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months, 
and  a  monument  on  his  grave  at  Roxbury  is  inscribed 
"  John  Chandler,  aged  9  m.  dy  15  D.  10  M.  1660."  Their  son 
Joseph  died  there  in  1668.  They  had  two  other  sons  who  took 
the  names  of  John  and  Joseph.  The  first  one  of  these, 
John,  (the  first  Judge  John  Chandler,)  was  born  April  16, 
1665,  and  married  first,  Nov.  10, 1692,  Mary  Raymond  of  New 
London  ;  secondly,  he  married  Nov.  14, 1711,  Esther  Britman, 
widow  of  Palsgrave  Alcock. 

The  other  son  of  Dea,  John  and  Elizabeth  Chandler,  Joseph 
Chandler,  was  born  in  1683,  married  Susannah  Perrin,  and  set- 
tled in  Pomfret,  Ct.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, the  youngest  of  whom  was  Peter  Chandler,  who  married 
Mary  Hodges.  Of  the  eleven  children  of  the  latter,  the  sev- 
enth was  Maj.  John  Wilkes  Chandler,  who  married  Mary  Sted- 
man.  The  latter  were  parents  of  Dr.  George  Chandler  of  this 
city,  who  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Ct.,  April  28,  1806,  and  mar- 
ried May  4,  1842,  his  third  cousin,  Josephine  Rose,  daughter 
of  Joseph  W.  Rose,  who  was  General  Commercial  Agent  for 
the  United  States  at  Antigua  and  the  adjacent  West  India 
Islands.  Joseph  W.  Rose's  wife,  Harriet  (Paine),  was  third 
daughter  of  Dr.  William  and  Lois  (Orne)  Paine  of  Worcester. 
Dr.  George  and  Josephine  (Rose)  Chandler's  only  surviving 
9 


66  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

children,  Mary,  born  Feb.  17,  1845,  married  Sept.  21,  1871, 
Col.  A.  George  Bullock,  son  of  Ex-Gov.  Alexander  H.  Bul- 
lock; and  Fannie,  born  Jan.  6,  1851,  married  June  18,  1873, 
Waldo  Lincoln,  son  of  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo  Lincoln,  and  grand- 
son of  the  late  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln. 

Dea.  John  Chandler's  son  John,  who  married  Mary  Ray- 
mond, was  the  first  Judge  of  Worcester  County.  He  resided 
several  years  in  New  London,  and  removed  back  to  Woodstock. 
Besides  holding  various  civil  positions,  including  Represent- 
ative in  the  General  Court  and  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Council,  he  was  a  coroner,  and  in  the  service  of  his  countiy  in 
a  military  capacity.  In  1722,  five  men  from  Worcester  were 
in  a  company  of  scouts  under  him  as  major  to  fight  the  Indians. 
He  was  afterwards  colonel,  as  were  also  his  son  and  grandson 
of  the  same  name.  Of  the  ten  children  of  Judii-e  John  and 
Mary  (Raymond)  Chandler,  the  first  four  were  born  in  New 
London,  and  the  last  six  in  Woodstock,  as  follows : 

1st,  John,  (the  second  Judge,)  born  Oct.  18, 1693,  who  mar- 
ried first,  Oct.  23, 1741,  Hannah  Gardner  of  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
and  secondly  married  Jan.  28,  1740,  Sarah  Clark,  daughter  of 
Timothy  Clark  of  Boston,  and  widow  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine, 
the  latter  being  father  of  Hon.  Timothy  Paine. 

2d,  Joshua,  born  Feb.  9,  169(3,  who  married  Feb.  16,  1727, 
Elizabeth  Cutler  of  Medway,  was  a  farmer  in  Woodstock,  fa- 
ther of  Joshua  Chandler,  Jr.,  of  New  Haven,  refugee.  His 
daughter  Mary  married  Col.  Joshua  Upham  of  Brookfield,  re- 
fugee, who  led  the  British  troops  into  New  London  when  Bene- 
dict Arnold  burned  that  place  during  the  Revolutionary  War  ; 
this  Col.  Upham,  who  afterwards  settled  in  St.  John,  N.  B., 
being  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles  Wenthworth  Upham  of 
Salem,  formerly  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts. 

3d,  Capt.  William  Chandler,  born  Nov.  3,  1698,  married  in 
1725,  Jemima  Bradbury,  they  being  parents  of  Rev.  Dr.  Thos. 
Bradbury  Chandler  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  and  of  Winthrop 
Chandler,  the  disthiguished  portrait  painter,  who  resided  sev- 
eral years  in  Worcester,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  his  broth- 
Theophilus  Chandler  in  Thompson,  Ct.,  in  1790,  aged  63. 

4th,  Mary,  born  April  30,  1700,  and  married  John  McCoy. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  67 

5tli,  Elizabeth,  born  May  12,  1702,  and  married  James 
Frizzell. 

6th,  Samuel,  liorn  Jan.  5,  1701,  married  Dorothy  Church  of 
Bristol,  R.  I. 

7th,  Sarah,  born  Oct.  11,  1705,  died  in  mfancy. 

8th,  Mehitable,  born  Aug.  10, 1707,  married  in  1747,  Thomas 
Buckminster,  hotel  keeper  in  Brookfield. 

9th,  Thomas,  born  July  23,  1709,  married  Elizabeth  Elliot 
of  Windsor,  Ct.,  obtained  the  charter  of  the  town  of  Chester, 
Vt.,  from  the  government  of  New  York,  became  Judge  of  the 
Courts,  and  was  a  citizen  of  Westminster,  Vt. 

10th,  Hannah,  born  in  1711,  died  in  infancy. 

Winthrop  Chandler,  mentioned  above,  was  born  in  Wood- 
stock, April  6,  1747,  and  married  Feb.  17,  1772,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Charles  Glysson  of  Dudley.  They  settled  in  Wor- 
cester in  1787,  and  that  year  Shay's  soldiers  were  quartered 
in  their  own  hired  house,  corner  of  Salisbury  and  Grove  streets, 
where  the  family  of  Hon.  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton  have  so  long  re- 
sided. Winthrop  Chandler  studied  the  art  of  painting  in  Bos- 
ton, and  some  of  his  portraits  in  oil  are  still  remaining  in 
Woodstock  and  Thompson,  Ct.,  and  in  Worcester  and  Peters- 
ham, Mass.  In  his  leisure  from  portrait  painting  he  engaged 
in  house  painting,  and  for  that  purpose  had  a  shop  near  the 
burying  ground  on  the  Common. 

The  first  Judge  John  Chandler,  (son  of  Dea.  John.)  died 
at  his  residence  in  W^oodstock,  Aug.  10,  1743,  in  his  79th  year, 
after  a  service  upon  the  bench  of  about  twelve  years,  leaving 
a  widow  and  five  sons.  He  had  been  forty  years  a  Commission- 
er of  the  Peace,  and  seven  years  Executive  Councillor.  His 
son  John,  the  second  Judge,  (the  first  one  of  tlie  two  who  re- 
sided in  Worcester,)  being  born  in  1^93,  was  tlierefore,  thirty- 
eight  years  old  when  he  came  to  Worcester  in  1731,  and  was 
appointed  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  Register  of  Deeds  and  of  Pro- 
bate, under  his  father,  which  positions,  as  well  as  those  of 
diairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  Representative,  County 
Treasurer,  etc.,  he  continued  to  hold  until  he  succeeded  to  his 
father's  judicial  positions,  when  his  own  son  John  succeeded 
to  most  of  his  offices. 


68  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  second  Judge  John  Cliandler,  the  first  of  the  name  who 
lived  in  Worcester,  married  Oct.  23,  1716,  Hannah,  daughter 
of  John  Gardner  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  or  Gardner's  Island, 
in  the  Province  of  New  York,  by  his  wife,  Mary  King,  and 
granddaughter  of  David,  son  of  Lion  Gardner,  who  came 
to  America  in  1685  at  the  age  of  36.  Sent  by  John  Win- 
tlirop,  Jr.,  Lion  sailed  from  Boston  Nov.  3,  1635,  and  was 
just  in  season  to  occupy  the  site  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut 
river  and  prevent  the  Dutch  from  getting  possession  of  it,  for 
a  sloop  from  the  Netherlands  came  only  a  few  days  after 
his  arrival,  with  stores  and  men  to  commence  a  settlement 
there.  He  built  a  fort  wdiich  w^as  burnt  in  1647,  and  then 
Lieut  Lion^Gardner  built  a  stone  fort  on  another  knoll  tlieri). 

The  second  Judge  Chandler  was  one  of  the  delegates  com- 
missioned by  Captain  General  and  Gov.  William  Shirley  of 
Massachusetts  to  meet  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1754,  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  an  interview  w^itli  the  Indians  of  the  Five 
Nations,  etc.,  and  of  concerting  measures  for  a  union  of  all  the 
British  American  Colonies.  This  w^as  the  germ  of  that  Con- 
gress of  the  Colonies  which  resulted  in  the  union  of  the  States 
twenty-two  years  afterwards.  His  gift  of  a  communion  service 
to  tlie  Church  in  Worcester  bears  this  inscription  :  "  Ye 
Gift  of  Col.  John  Chandler  of  ye  Church  in  Worcester,  1737." 
A  portion  of  this  service  is  still  in  use  by  this  churcli,  and  this 
inscription  still  remains  thereon.  He  joined  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company  in  Boston  in  1735,  and  was  cho- 
sen its  commander  in  1737.  With  talents  more  brilliant  an.d 
showy  than  solid  or  profound,  he  possessed  highly  popular  man- 
ners, and  a  peculiarly  happy,  cheerful  disposition.  He  exer- 
cised a  liberal  hospitality  on  Court  days  at  his  residence,  by 
keeping  open  table  for  the  widows  and  orphans  brought  before 
his  tribunal  wiiile  he  was  Judge  of  Probate.  He  had  two  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  (the  two  sons  being,  John,  the  third  and 
last  Judge,  and  Gardner,  the  Sheriff,)  four  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren being  born  in  New  London,  and  the  last  five  in  Wood- 
stock. He  married  in  1741,  for  his  second  wife^  the  wddow  of 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine,  from  Bristol,  R.  L,  and  mother  of  Hon. 
Timothy  Paine.     In  his  youthful  days  he  was  employed  in  the 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  69 

Treasury  office  in  Connecticut,  and  "  being  blessed  with  a 
sprightly  genius,"  was  soon  introduced  into  public  life,  and  for 
a  great  number  of  years  represented  the  town  of  Woodstock 
in  the  General  Court.  After  his*  removal  to  Worcester  he  was 
immediately  chosen  Representative,  and  so  continued  until  he 
was  chosen  one  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  until  his  death.  He  was  always  noted  for  his  faithful- 
ness in  attendance  upon  his  public  duties.  He  died  Aug.  7, 
1762,  in  his  69th  year,  leaving  a  widow,  two  sons,  five  daugh- 
ters, and  forty-two  grandchildren.  He  is  described  as  having 
been  a  "  kind  husband,  tender  parent,  and  beneficent  friend  to 
the  poor,  always  seeming  most  highly  delighted  when  employed 
in  acts  of  charity  and  kindness.  He  was  always  a  lover  and 
promoter  of  learning,  a  diligent  and  punctual  attendant  upon 
the  public  worship  of  God,  and  upon  all  offices  of  religion  in 
general.  As  he  lived  beloved,  so  he  died  lamented."  His  re- 
mains were  interred  Aug.  11,  in  the  family  tomb  upon  the  old 
Common,  and  on  Sunday  Aug.  15,  a  funeral  discourse  was  de- 
livered by  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty  in  the  old  meeting  house 
on  the  Common,  from  Job  7  :  9  and  10, — "As  the  cloud  is  con- 
sumed and  vanished  away :  so  he  that  goeth  down  to  tlie  grave 
shall  come  up  no  more.  He  shall  return  no  more  to  his  house, 
neither  shall  his  place  know  him  any  more."  The  curious 
manuscript  of  this  sermon  is  now  in  possession  of  the  Judge's 
great-great-grandson.  Rev.  George  S.  Paine,  at  "The  Oaks." 

All  the  nine  children  of  this  second  Judge  Chandler  were 
by  his  first  wife  Hannah  (Gardner),  as  follows: 

1st,  Mary,  married  Benjamin  Greene  of  Boston  ;  2d,  Esther, 
married  Rev.  Thomas  Clapp  of  Taunton  ;  3d,  John,  born  Feb. 
26,  1721,  the  last  of  the  three  Judges  of  that  name,  who  mar- 
ried March  5,  1741,  Dorothy,  sister  of  Hon.  Timotliy  Paine, 
and  for  his  second  wife,  June  2,  1746,  married  Mary  Church 
of  Bristol,  R.  I.;  4th,  Gardner,  afterwards  Sheriff,  born  Sept. 
18,  1723,  and  married  first  Hannah  Greene  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  secondly  married  Aug.  2,  1767,  Anna  Leonard, 
daughter  of  Hon.  George  Leonard  of  Norton  ;  5th,  Sarah, 
born  Jan.  11,  1726,  married  in  1749,  Hon.  Timothy  Paine; 
6tli,  Hannah,  born  Feb.  1,  1728,  married  May  17,  1750,  Samu- 


70  Reminiscences  of    Woixester. 

el  Williams  of  Roxbiirv  :  7th,  Lucrotia,  born  July  18,  1730, 
married  Sept.  1,  1761,  Hon.  John  Murray  of  Rutland  ;  8th, 
Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  5,  1733,  married  Sept.  20,  1754,  Hon. 
James  Putnam,  the  last  Attorney  General  of  the  Province  un- 
der the  Cro\Yn  ;  9th,  Catherine,  born  March  28,  1735,  married 
Levi  Willard  of  Lancaster,  with  whom  Col.  Samuel  Ward  was 
in  partnership  in  mercantile  business  in  Lancaster. 

The  last  Judge  John  Chandler,  born  in  Xew  London,  Feb. 
26, 1721,  had  seventeen  children,  born  between  1741,  and  1770, 
of  whom  the  first  four  were  by  his  first  wife,  Dorothy  (Paine), 
and  tlie  last  thirteen  by  his  second  wife  Mary  (Church),  all 
born  in  the  last  Judge's  homestead,  which  stood  where  Wm.  C. 
Clark's  block  now  is,  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  streets: 

1st,  John,  born  March  3,  1742,  married  April  4,  1766,  Ly- 
dia  Ward,  and  resided  in  Petersham  ;  2d,  Gardner,  born  Dec. 
1,  1743,  died  in  infancy;  3d,  Clark,  born  Dec.  1,  1743,  died 
June  1,  1804,  was  Town  Clerk,  Register  of  Probate,  etc.;  4th, 
Dorothy,  born  Sept.  16,  1745,  married  Dec.  26,  1767,  Col. 
Samuel  Ward  of  Lancaster,  and  resided  there  ;  5th,  Rufus, 
born  May  18,  1747,  (Old  Style)  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1766, 
\married  Xov.  18,  1770,  Eleanor  Putnam,  daughter  of  Hon. 
James  Putnam,  with  whom  he  studied  law,  and  practised  here 
till  the  Revolution,  when  he  left  the  country  on  account  of  his 
royal  sympathies,  and  died  in  London,  Oct.  11,  1823  ;  6th, 
Gardner,  born  Jan.  27,  1749,  married  in  1772,  Elizabeth  Rug- 
gles,  daughter  of  Hon.  Timothy  Ruggles  of  Hardwick  ;  7th, 
Nathaniel,  born  Nov.  6th,  1750,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1778, 
studied  law  with  his  uncle.  Attorney  General  Putnam,  practis- 
ed in  Petersham,  became  a  refugee  for  his  tory  proclivities, 
acted  in  the  British  service,  returned  after  the  war  and  died  in 
Worcester,  March  7,  1801 ;  8th,  William,  born  Dec.  7,  1752, 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1772,  also  a  refugee,  returned  to  and 
died  in  Worcester  July  1,  1793  ;  9th,  Charles,  born  Jan.  22, 
1755,  married  Nov.  18,  1799,  Sally  Mower,  (sister  of  Maj. 
Ephraim  Mower,)  and  their  daughter,  Sarah,  who  married  the 
second  Col.  Samuel  Ward,  inherited  the  estate  of  310  acres 
formerly  owned  by  her  grandfather,  including  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  Abial  Jaques  farm  ;   10th,  Samuel, 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  71 

born  Feb.  25,  1757,  for  some  time  in  partnership  in  mercantile 
business  with  his  brotlier  Charles;  11th,  Sarah,  born  Dec.  14, 
1758,  married  Sept.  14,  1780,  Capt.  John  Stanton,  Jr.,  who 
resided  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Foster  streets,  in  the 
house  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  successively  by  Thomas 
Stevens  and  John  W.  Stiles,  which  was  removed  to  Mechanic 
street,  in  184-3,  when  the  first  Universalist  Church  was  built  on 
its   site  ;  12th,  Mary,  born  Dec.   25,   1759,  married  Oct.  29, 

1785,  William  Sever,  Jr.,  (father  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Lincoln,)  and 
resided  in  what  had  been  previously  known  as  the  ''  King's 
Arms  "•  tavern  ;  13th,  Benjamin,  born  in  17G1,  drowned  Dec. 
16,  1775,  with  his  brother  Francis,  two  years  younger,  while 
skating  on  Red  Mills  pond  ;  15th,  Lucretia,  born  June  9,  1765, 
married  Oct.  24,  1786,  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  Bancroft,  of  the  Second 
Parish  (1st  Unitarian)  Church;  16th,  Thomas,  born  Jan.  11, 

1786,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1787,  married  Sept.  25,  1802, 
Eliza  Davis,  widow  of  William  Dennie  of  Boston,  was  a  mer- 
chant, and  died  here  May  13, 1804  ;  17th,  Elizabeth,  born  Feb. 
20,  1770,  married  Dec.  2,  1786,  Ebenezer  Putnam  of  St.  John, 
N.  B.,  son  of  Hon.  James  Putnam,  refugee. 

Capt.  John  Stanton,  Jr.,  above  mentioned,  kept  store  in  a 
small  wooden  building  which  stood  just  south  of  his  residence 
afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Stevens,  Stiles,  Butman,  and 
others,  and  he  also  had  a  pottery  on  the  east  corner  of  Front 
and  Church  streets,  which  after  Capt.  Stanton's  death  in  1796, 
was  carried  on  by  Daniel  Goulding.  Capt.  Stanton,  (son  of 
John  and  Joanna  Stanton,)  was  born  in  Boston  in  1755,  and 
came  here  about  1776.  He  commanded  the  old  Worcester 
Artillery  in  1789.  Capt.  Stanton's  daughter  Sarah,  born  in 
1786,  married  in  1806  Lieut.  Joshua  B.  Blake  of  Boston, 
brother  of  the  late  Hon.  Francis  Blake  of  Worcester. 

The  last  Judge  John  Chandler,  his  sons  Rufus,  Nathaniel, 
and  William,  his  nephew.  Dr.  William  Paine,  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  James  Putnam,  were  among  those  proscribed  and  for- 
bidden to  return  here  a  second  time  on  penalty  of  death,  on 
account  of  their  adherence  to  the  mother  country  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolution.  But  William  Chandler  and  Dr. 
William  Paine  subsequently  obtained  permission  and  did  re- 


72  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

turn  and  reside  here,  after  the  war.  Others  left  voluntarily 
oil  account  of  tlieii'  open  and  acknowledged  opposition  to  the 
patriot  cause.  The  last  Judge  Chandler  died  in  London,  Sept. 
26, 1800,  after  an  exile  of  a  quarter  of  century,  and  was  buried 
in  Islington. 

The  vast  estates  of  the  Judge,  which  were  confiscated,  were 
assessed  by  the  authorities  here  after  his  departure,  at  a  total 
valuation  of  <£  147,659  (or  about  8738,295,)  so  that  he  must 
have  been  by  far  the  wealthiest  person  in  this  section.  The 
property  was  particularized  as  follows  :  v 

Homestead  estate  where  his  wife  (Mary)  afterwards  resided, 
until  her  decease,  bounded  on  three  sides  by  what  are  now 
Main,  Front,  and  ^lechanic  streets,  (on  the  south-east  by  the 
"  ministerial  land,-')  on  which  were  a  large  dwelling-house, 
two  barns,  a  corn  barn,  large  store  building,  etc.,  valued  in  all 
£5,000  ;  Farm  called  the  Mill  Farm  and  Mill  Spot,  comprising 
260  acres,  (at  what  is  now  Quinsigamond  Tillage,  afterwards 
purchased  by  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  and  subsequently 
owned  and  occupied  by  Col.  John  W.  Lincoln,  the  principal 
part  of  the  same,  with  the  exception  of  the  Mill  Spot,  being 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  John  S.  Ballard,)  the  original 
valued  at  £12,000  ;  Farm  where  his  son  Rufus  Chandler  lived 
a  few  vears  previous  to  his  leaving  in  1775,  near  the  prison, 
(being  the  last  Judge  Chandler's  father's  old  homestead  of 
500  acres  in  the  vicinity  and  east  of  Lincoln  Square,)  valued 
at  £17,000  ;  also  other  real  estate,  in  various  localities,  amount- 
ing to  £87,530,  including  land  to  the  value  of  £5,154,  in 
Connecticut,  £3,607  in  Hampshire  County,  and  numerous 
other  estates  in  Worcester  and  many  other  towns  in  this  county. 

The  Judge's  personal  estate  confiscated  amounted  to  about 
£600,  or  83000.  Of  his  whole  estate,  the  homestead  and  per- 
sonal property  were  set  off  to  the  wife,  with  other  property 
to  the  amount  of  £25,500,  or  nearly  8130,000,  as  her  dow- 
er, so  she  was  well  provided  for  during  the  remaining  years 
of  her  life.  After  her  decease,  her  old  homestead  became  a 
hotel,  kept  for  many  years  by  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower,  whose  sis- 
ter married  her  son  Charles. 

Yet  in  the  face  of  all  this  immense  pecuniary  sacrifice,  made 
fioiu  a  chivalrous  sense  of  loyalty  to  the  Crown,  this  properly 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  73 

termed  "  honest  refugee,"  after  his  arrival  in  London,  exhib- 
ited t'o  tlie  British  Commissioners  appointed  to  adjust  the  com- 
pensation to  those  Americans  who  adhered  to  the  royal  cause, 
a  schedule  estimating  the  amount  of  his  confiscated  estates 
here  at  the  very  exceedingly  moderate  sum  of  <£11,0G7,  and 
the  losses  of  income  from  various  offices,  the  destruction  of 
business,  etc.,  at  about  <£ 6,000  more.  He  was  impartial  as  a 
judge  and  magistrate,  "  cheerful  in  temperament,  engaging  in 
manner,  hospitable  as  a  citizen,  friendly  and  kind  as  a  neigh^ 
bor,  industrious  and  enterprising  as  a  merchant,  and  success- 
ful as  a  man  of  business." 

The  Judge's  brother,  the  Sheriff,  was  one  of  those  siding 
with  the  mother  country  at  the  outbreak  of  the  difficulties 
which  ended  in  the  Revolution,  but  on  being  reprimanded,  he 
reconsidered  his  action  and  was  permitted  to  remain  here, 
though  he  lost  his  office.  He  was  a  merchant  until  he  became 
Sheriff  in  1763.  His  son,  Gardner  Leonard  Chandler,  born  in 
Nov.  29,  1768,  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1787,  studied 
law  with  the  elder  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  and  was  afterwards  a 
merchant  in  Boston. 

A  Convention  of  all  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in 
the  county  was  held  in  Worcester  on  the  21st  of  September, 
1771,  in  which,  among  other  important  action,  it  was  voted  "  to 
take  notice  of  Mr.  Sheriff  Chandler  for  carrying  an  address  to 
Gov.  Gage,"  congratulatory  of  the  course  of  the  latter,  where- 
upon Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler  presented  himself  before  that 
remarkable  body  whose  jurisdiction  seemed  supreme,  and  with 
some  hesitation  subscribed  to  the  following  declaration : — 
"  Whereas,  the  Convention  of  Committees  have  expressed  their 
uneasiness  to  the  Sheriff  of  this  county,  now  present  before 
them,  for  presenting  with  others  an  address  to  Gov.  Gage,  he 
frankly  declares  it  was  precipitately  done  by  him,  and  that  he 
is  sorry  for  it,  and  disclaims  the  intention  to  do  anythin,i>,' 
against  tlie  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  county,  and  had 
he  known  it  would  have  give  offence,  he  would  not  have  pre- 
sented that  address."  This  was  an  address  signed  by  the  Jus- 
tices of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  this  county,  wdio  pre- 
viously to  the  Revolution  were  all  of  the  tory  stamp,  and  Hon. 
10 


74  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

Timothy  Rnggles  of  Hardwick,  Judge  John  Chandler,  and 
Attorney  General  James  Putnam  of  Worcester,  Abel  Willard 
of  Lancaster,  also  a  refugee,  and  Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler  of 
Worcester,  were  appointed  by  the  Court  a  committee  to  wait 
upon  His  Excellency  Gov.  Gage  and  present  this  address,  which 
was  delivered  by  the  Sheriff  in  person. 

Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler  died  in  Worcester  June  28,  1782, 
in  his  59th  year.  His  estate,  appraised  March  19,  1784,  in- 
cluding the  mansion  house  and  thirty  acres  of  land,  where  the 
late  Judge  Ira  M.  Barton  lived,  was  valued  at  .£1600,  or  about 
$8000.  This  is  the  estate  before  referred  to,  subsequently 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  Messrs.  Bush,  Dea.  Butman,  and 
others.  The  statement  on  page  21,  that  Sheriff  Chandler's  es- 
tate was  confiscated,  was  made  from  confounding  his  name  with 
another  Gardner  Chandler,  (son  of  the  last  Judge,)  who  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  the  noted  tory,  Gen.  Timothy  Ruggles  of 
Hardwick,  and  was  among  those  proscribed  and  banished,  in 
the  legislative  Act  of  the  ''  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1778,"  entitled,  ''  An  Act  to  prevent  the  re- 
turn to  this  State  of  certain  persons  therein  named,  and  others 
who  have  left  this  State,  or  either  of  the  United  States,  and 
joined  the  enemies  thereof:  Wliereas,  John  Chandler,  Esquire, 
James  Putnam,  Esquire,  William  Paine,  physician,  William 
Chandler,  gentleman,  Nathaniel  Chandler,  gentleman,  Gardner 
Chandler,  merchant,  of  Worcester,  in  the  county  of  Worces- 
ter ;  John  Murray,  Esquire,  of  Rutland,  in  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester, and  many  other  persons  who  have  left  this  State  or 
some  other  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  joined  the 
enemies  thereof,"  etc.,  etc.,  "  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the 
Council  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  as- 
sembled, etc.,  that  if  any  of  the  said  persons  or  others  of  like 
miind  and  act,  not  mentioned,  shall  return  to  their  native 
State,  they  shall  be  "transported  back  into  some  port  or 
place  within  the  dominions  or  possessions  of  the  forces  of  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,"  and  if  they  should  voluntarily  return 
a  second  time  they  were  to  "  suffer  the  pains  of  death  without 
the  benefit  of  clergy." 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  75 

Slieriff  Gardner  Chandler  in  command  as  major,  marched 
Aug.  10,  1757,  with  Capt.  John  Curtis  and  a  company  of  54  men 
fi'om  Worcester,  into  the  ''  extreme  western  frontier  of  the 
Province,"  there  to  await  such  orders  as  might  be  received 
from  headquarters  to  check  tlie  advance  of  the  French  after  the 
surrender  of  Fort  McHenry.  The  men  marched  to  Sheffield, 
105  miles  from  Worcester,  where  intelligence  was  received  from 
Gen.  Webb  tliat  the  eneni}^  had  remained  contented  with  what 
they  had  already  acquired,  and  our  soldiers  were  disbanded 
and  returned  home. 

In  the  family  of  the  second  Judge  Chandler  there  had  been 
a  slave  called  ''old  Aunt  Silvia,"  (afterwards  in  the  family  of 
liis  son,  Sheriif  Gardner  Chandler,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Paine,)  who  lived  to  attain  the  greatest  age  of  any  per- 
son on  record  in  Worcester,  being  over  107  years  old  at  her 
decease  in  1804. 

Of  the  numerous  sons  of  the  last  Judge  Chandler,  Gard- 
ner, wlio  married  Elizabeth  Ruggles,  was  one  of  those  proscrib- 
ed, but  returned  by  permission  after  the  war,  resided  a  while 
in  Hardwick,and  Brattleboro,  Vt.,and  died  in  Hinsdale,  N.  H., 
in  1811.  Of  their  three  children,  Elizabeth  Augusta  married 
Dec.  14,  1794,  the  late  Hon.  Francis  Blake,  then  of  Rutland, 
father  of  the  present  Francis  and  H.  G.  0.  Blake  of  Worcester. 

Clark  Chandler,  the  tory  Town  Clerk,  left  Worcester  in  June, 
1775,  reaching  Boston  by  way  of  Newport,  returned  by  way  of 
Canada  to  Worcester  in  September,  surrendered  himself  up  to 
the  authorites  here,  and  was  committed  to  prison  on  suspicion 
of  having  held  intercourse  w^ith  the  enemy.  On  account  of 
a  dangerous  sickness  brought  on  by  too  close  confinement,  he 
was  permitted,  Dec.  15,  by  the  Provincial  Assembly,  to  reside 
at  Lancaster,  on  his  parole  tliat  he  would  not  leave  the  limits 
of  that  town.  He  returned  to  Worcester  after  the  war,  and 
kept  store  in  the  old  "  Compound."  He  died  June  1,  1804, 
aged  GO.  He  was  very  odd  and  singular  in  his  personal 
appearance,  wiiicli  often  provoked  jeers,  but  he  repaid  the  au- 
thors of  them  witli  compound  interest.  He  became  at  last 
nearly  blind. 


76  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

During  tlie  hostile  attitude  of  France  in  1708,  wliicli  required 
energetic  preparations  for  defence,  a  company  of  sixty,  rank 
and  file,  was  organized  in  Worcester  under  Capt.  Thomas 
Chandler,  son  of  the  last  Judge,  called  the  "Worcester  Volun- 
teer Cadets,"  holding  themselves  ready  to  march  on  the  re- 
ception of  orders.  They  were  stationed  at  Oxford  during  the 
following  winter.  This  Capt.  Chandler  kept  store  in  the  old 
building  previously  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Xazro,  corner 
of  Main  and  Pleasant  streets,  and  boarded  at  one  time  with 
John  Farrar,  corner  of  Main  and  Park  streets,  and  his  death 
was  occasioned  by  injuries  received  by  falling  from  the  stoop 
of  that  house,  (afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Daniel  Clapp 
and  Judge  Charles  Allen,)  on  to  which  he  had  got  in  his  sleep. 
At  one  time,  while  residing  in  the  "  green  house"  about  a  mile 
out  on  the  Leicester  road,  (afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by 
Dea.  David  Richards  and  S.  S.  Gates,)  Capt.  Chandler  gave  a 
'■  Sillabub  Party,"  long  remembered  by  those  who  were  present. 
The  recipe  for  this  beverage,  then  considered  the  nicest  thing 
drinkable,  was,  "  Put  port  wine  and  sugar  into  a  pail  and  milk 
the  cow  directly  into  it." 

Maj.  Charles  Chandler,  who  married  Sarah  (or  Sally)  Mower, 
died  April  9,  1798,  aged  44,  and  his  wife  died  Dec.  7,  1801, 
aged  30  ;  and  their  only  daughter,  Sarah,  born  in  1796,  who 
succeeded  to  the  possession  of  her  grandfather's  estate,  (after- 
wards the  Jaques  farm,)  married  in  1818,  Col.  Samuel  Ward, 
grandson  of  the  Col.  Samuel  Ward  of  Lancaster,  who  married 
her  aunt  Dorothy  Chandler,  daughter  of  the  last  Judge.  Col. 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Chandler)  Ward  removed  from  Worcester 
to  Boston  in  1837,  where  he  died  March  1,  1842,  and  she  still 
lives  in  Boston.  Of  their  four  children,  Sarah,  born  May  5,1817, 
married  in  1840  H.  G.  0.  Blake  of  Worcester.  The  latter's 
daughter,  Sarah  Chandler  Blake,  born  March  22,  1841,  married 
in  1866,  Alonzo  A.  Hamilton,  Jr.,  from  Saco,  Me.,  a  merchant 
in  Boston.  Col.  Ward's  daughter  Harriet,  born  in  1821,  mar- 
ried her  cousin,  Charles  Stanton  Blake  ;  his  daughter  Francis, 
born  in  1824,  married  Robert  W.  Lord  ;  and  his  son  Charles, 
boru  in  1828,  resides  in  Boston. 

The  brothers  Samuel  and  Charles  Chandler  at  one  time  man- 
ufactured pearl  and  pot  ashes  on  the  then  estate  of  the  latter, 


JReminiscences  of  Worcester.  77 

(tlic  Jaqiies  farm,)  tlieir  works  being  partially  burned  July  4, 
1791. 

Dr.  George  Chandler  of  this  city,  (whose  great-grandfather 
was  brother  of  the  first  Judge  John  Chandler,)  graduated  at 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  received  the  degree  of 
M.  p.,  at  Yale,  commenced  medical  practice  in  Worcester  in 
1831,  and  March,  1833,  began  service  as  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent of  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  of  this  city,  then  just  opened, 
of  which  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Woodward  w^as  the  first  Su- 
perintendent. Dr.  Chandler  continued  his  duties  as  Assistant 
Superintendent  here  until  May  2,  1842,  when  he  resigned  to 
take  the  superintendence  of  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Con- 
cord, N.  H.,  then  just  erected  upon  a  plan  submitted  by  him. 
After  establishing  that  institution  upon  a  self-sustaining  basis. 
Dr.  Chandler  resigned  his  position  there  to  assume  the  super- 
intendence of  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  at  Worcester,  vacated 
by  Dr.  Woodward  in  July,  1846,  which  position  he  filled  with 
great  acceptance  for  ten  years.  Since  retiring  from  official 
and  professional  duties,  Dr.  Chandler  has  several  times  visited 
the  old  world,  and  been  engaged  more  or  less  in  literary  pur- 
suits. He  is  author  of  an  elaborate  work  on  the  "  History  of 
the  Chandler  Family,"  most  of  the  printed  copies  of  which 
were  unfortunately  burned  in  the  great  Boston  fire  of  1872. 

The  second  Judge  Chandler's  wife  Hannah  (Gardner)  died 
Jan.  5,  1738,  when  she  had  her  tenth  (still-born)  child.  His 
last  wife,  Sarah,  (Clark,)  who  was  motlier  of  Hon.  Timo- 
thy Paine,  survived  her  husband  some  sixteen  years,  the 
property  set  off  to  her  from  her  husband's  estate  being  valued 
at  her  decease  at  X 25,500,  (or  $127,250,)  including  household 
property  appraised  at  £612,  (3,060.)  By  her  will,  dated  July 
31, 1778,  she  bequeathed  four-fifths  of  her  estate,  in  equal  parts 
to  her  sons  Timothy  and  Edward  Paine,  her  daughter  Sarah, 
(wife  of  Thomas  Droune,)  and  her  grand  daughter  Sarah, 
(wife  of  Ephraim  Curtis) ;  and  the  other  fifth  to  her  gi'and 
children,  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  of  Petersham,  and  Dolly  (wife 
of  Samuel  Ward  of  Lancaster),  children  of  her  daughter, 
Dorothy  (Chandler)  Paine. 


78  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Tlie  last  wife  (Mary  Cliiircli,)  of  the  last  Judge  John  Chand- 
ler, died  Sept.  18,  1783,  eight  years  after  lier  exiled  liusband 
left  here,  and  seventeen  years  before  his  death  in  London. 

Tlie  last  Judge's  son  John,  who  married  Lydia  Ward  and 
settled  in  Petersham,  had  four  children  :  John,  who  lived  and 
died  in  Petersham,  without  issue;  Nathaniel,  w'ho  lived  in  Lan- 
caster ;  and  Clark  and  Lydia,  who  resided  elsewhere.  There 
were  thus  in  all,  six  generations  of  John  Chandlers  in  succes- 
sion, from  the  first,  Dea.  John  of  Roxbury  and  Woodstock,  to 
the  last  one  in  Petersham.  The  latter  was  an  exceedingly  pe- 
culiar man,  of  remarkable  natural  ability,  but  of  insane  mind 
during  his  later  years.  Many  of  his  extravagant  expressions 
and  doings  are  well  remembered  by  many  of  our  older  citizens, 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact  in  various  ways.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard  University  in  the  same  class  with  John ,  Quincy 
Adams,  afterwards  President  of  the  United  States,  and  ahead 
of  the  latter  in  his  class,  and  had  he  made  the  best  use  of  his 
talents,  might  have  shone  as  brilliantly  as  his  illustrious  class- 
mate on  the  pages  of  American  history.  This  grandson  of  the 
last  Judge  Chandler  died  Sept.  21, 1846,  in  his  80th  year.  He 
was  own  cousin  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Lincoln,  Mrs.  Gov.  Davis,  and  the 
Hon.  George  Bancroft.  His  singular  (and  too  often  irrev- 
erent) eccentricities  were  in  marked  contrast  with  the  judicial 
dignity  of  his  distinguished  ancestors  of  the  same  name.  His 
Avife  was  Elizabeth  Greene,  whose  sister,  Dolly  Greene,  was 
wife  of  his  brother  Nathaniel. 

Gen.  Samuel  McClellan,  born  in  Worcester,  Jan.  4, 1730,  who 
died  in  Woodstock,  Ct.,  Sept.  17, 1807,  was  probably  son  of  W^il- 
liam  McClellan,  the  constable  in  Worcester,  by  his  wife  Jen- 
nie, and  grandson  of  James  McClellan,  the  Scotch-Irish  emi- 
grant, who  was  on  the  first  board  of  W^orcester  town  officers. 
Samuel  McClellan  settled  at  Woodstock,  was  a  merchant  there, 
and  married  first,  Jemima  Chandler,  born  Nov.  16,  1757, 
daughter  of  Capt.  William  and  Jemima  (Bradbury)  Chandler, 
and  granddaughter  of  the  first  Judge  Chandler;  married,, 
second,  March  5,  1766,  Rachel  Able  ;  and  married,  third,  July 
3,  1798,  Eunice  Follansbee  of  Worcester.  In  a  graveyard  in 
Putney,  Yt.,  is  inscribed  on  a  tombstone,  "Eunice,  wife  of  Gen. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  79 

Samuel  McClellan,  died  Nov.  7,  1830,  a.  89."  Immediately 
on  the  news  of  Lexington  figlit,  April  19, 1775,  reaching  Wood- 
stock, Samuel  McClellan,  then  Captain,  marched  his  company 
of  48  mounted  men,  and  got  as  far  as  Oxford  on  his  way  to  the 
scene  of  conflict,  when  news  reached  him  that  the  British  foe 
had  retired  to  the  confines  of  Boston.  He  was  great-grand- 
father of  Gen.  Geo.  B.  McClellan. 

The  Paine  Family. 

Timothy  Paine  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  influ- 
ential men  in  Worcester  county  during  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century  preceding  the  Revolution.  He  w^as  the  youngest  of 
seven  children  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine  of  Bristol,  R.  L,  and 
great-great-grandson  of  Stephen  Paine,  tlie  founder  of  the 
stock  in  this  country,  who  came  from  Great  Ellington,  Norfolk 
Co.,  England,  and  settled  in  Relioboth,  Mass.  This  Steplien 
had  a  son  Stephen,  who  was  the  fatlier  of  Nathaniel,  also  of 
Rehoboth,  who  settled  in  Bristol,  R.  L,  and  filled  important 
civil  offices  there.  This  second  Nathaniel,  (father  of  Timo- 
thy,) came  to  Worcester  in  1738,  with  his  daughter,  Dorothy, 
when  Timothy  was  eight  years  old.  Here  Dorothy  became 
the  wife  of  the  last  Judge  John  Chandler,  and  Timothy, 
the  next  year  after  his  graduation  at  Harvard  College  in 
1748,  married  Sarah  Chandler,  the  Judge's  sister.  The  family 
first  located  on  the  west  side  of  Lincoln  street,  in  the  old  house 
still  standing  behind  two  huge  elm  trees  just  north  of  the  site 
of  the  old  "  Hancock  Arms"  tavern.  The  father  died  in  1740, 
and  Timothy  continued  to  reside  in  the  old  homestead  until  he 
built,  just  before  the  revolution,  the  elegant  mansion  farther  up 
on  the  same  street  which  has  since  been  in  possession  of  the 
family  for  five  generations. 

Besides  holding  numerous  and  important  town  offices,  for  a 
long  time,  including  that  of  Selectman  for  nearly  20  years, 
Timothy  Paine  was  Clerk  of  the  County  Courts  from  1751 
to  1775,  Register  of  Deeds  from  1761  to  1775,  Register  of 
Probate  from  1757  to  1767,  and  Executive  Councillor  from 
1766  to  1773.  He  also  represented  tlie  town  seven  years  in 
the  General  Court,  two  of  those  years  subsequent  to  the  Revo- 


80  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

lutioii.  He  died  July  IT,  1793,  aged  63,  and  his  wife,  Sarali, 
died  ill  1811,  aged  84.  Mrs.  Paine,  or  Madame  Paine,  as  she 
was  styled  by  her  cotemporaries,  was  a  woman  of  uncommon 
ener«-y  and  acuteness  of  mind,  and  greatly  aided  and  encour- 
aged her  husband -in  his  royalist  views.  No  indignity  offered 
to  the  King,  in  her  presence,  could  go  unrevenged.  Her  wit 
proved  a  match  on  one  occasion,  for  even  President'  John 
Adams,  when  that  distinguished  advocate  of  the  popular  cause, 
before  matters  had  reached  their  culminating  crisis,  was  on  a 
visit  to  his  old  friends  and  former  pupils  here.  Mr.  Adams  was 
invited  to  dine  with  the  Court  and  Bar,  at  the  house  of  Hon. 
Timothy  Paine„  then  holding  several  important  county  offices 
connected  with  the  courts.  When  the  wine  w^as  circulated 
]-ound  the  table,  Mr.  Paine  gave  as  a  toast,  "  The  King."  Some 
of  the  Whigs  were  about  to  refuse  to  drink  it,  when  Mr.  Adams 
whispered  to  them  to  comply,  saying,  "  We  shall  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  return  the  compliment."  At  length,  when  he  was 
desired  to  give  a  toast,  he  gave,  "  The  Devil."  As  the  host  was 
about  to  resent  the  supposed  indignity,  his  wife  calmed  him, 
and  turned  the  laugh  upon  Mr.  Adams  by  immediately  exclaim- 
in  *>-,  '•  My  dear,  as  the  gentleman  has  been  so  kind  as  to  drink 
to  our  king,  let  us  by  no  means  rchise  to  drink  to  //?5." 

Having  been  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  of  the  Pro- 
vince seven  years  from  1766,  Mr.  Paine  was  appointed  by  the 
royal  Gov.  Gage,  in  1774,  one  of  His  Majesty's  Mandamus 
Councillors,  (with  Col.  John  Murray  of  Rutland  and  Gen.  Tim- 
othy Ruggles  of  Hardwick,)  a  position  which  he  was  forced  to 
decline,  so  universal  was  the  excitement  raised  among  the  mass 
of  the  people  of  the  county  against  any  compliance  with  the 
requisitions  or  demands  of  the  mother  country.  The  news  of 
his  appointment  to  and  acceptance  of  that  obnoxious  trust 
having  been  widely  circulated  throughout  the  neighboring 
towns  by  their  respective  Committees  of  Correspondence,  who 
summoned  the  friends  of  liberty  to  appear  at  Worcester  on  the 
22d  of  August,  1774,  upon  a  brief  notice  given  from  one  town 
to  another  only  the  day  previous,  upwards  of  three  thousand 
men  in  companies  from  the  different  towns  headed  by  their  own 
officci's,  marched  into  this  town  in  military  order,  but  without 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  81 

arms,  before  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  and  formed 
in  lines  upon  the  Common.  Here,  a  committee  of  two  or  three 
from  each  company  was  chosen  to  wait  upon  Hon.  Timothy 
Paine  and  demand  a  resignation  of  his  office  as  Councillor, 
which  they  did  by  going  to  his  house,  where  he  agreed  to  re- 
sign that  office,  and  in  their  presence  signed  an  acknowledg- 
ment prepared  by  them,  expressing  his  sense  of  obligation  to 
his  fellow  citizens  of  the  County  for  their  past  favors  towards 
him,  his  reluctance  to  oppose  their  wishes,  his  sorrow  for  tak- 
ing the  oath  of  acceptance  of  the  new  office,  and  a  solemn 
promise  that  he  would  never  exercise  its  powers.  The  Com- 
mittee then  returned  to  make  their  report  to  their  constituents 
upon  the  Common,  when  they  found  large  numbers  of  them 
lining  Main  Street  all  the  way  from  the  meeting-house  to  the 
Court-house.  The  acknowledgment  was  considered  satisfac- 
tory, but  a  further  confirmation  was  required  in  presence  of 
the  whole  body,  upon  the  Common,  and  a  sub-committee  was 
commissioned  to  request  Mr.  Paine's  attendance  there,  a  re- 
quest which  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  decline,  and  he  ac- 
companied the  gentlemen  who  delivered  the  message  to  the 
Common,  where  the 'people  were  found  drawn  up  in  two  bodies 
ready  to  receive  them,  forming  a  lane  between  the  two  divisions 
through  which  the  committee  and  Mr.  Paine  passed,  and  read 
divers  times  as  they  passed  along,  the  said  acknowledgment. 
Several  other  noted  sympathisers  with  the  king,  found  mixing 
in  the  crowd,  were  escorted  through  the  ranks  in  the  same  way, 
halting  at  every  few  paces  to  listen  to  the  reading  of  their  sev- 
eral confessions  of  political  transgression,  which  had  been  pre- 
pared for  them  to  sign  by  the  Committeee  of  Correspondence. 
Sabine's  "History  of  American  Loyalists,"  in  speaking  of 
Mr.  Paine  in  connection  with  this  affiiir,  states  that  ''  at  first, 
Mr.  Dennie,  one  of  the  Committee,  read  his  resignation  in  his 
behalf.  It  was  then  insisted  that  he  should  read  it  himself,  and 
with  his  hat  off.  Mr.  Paine  hesitated,  and  demanded  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Committee ;  finally  he  complied,  and  was  allowed 
to  go  to  his  dwelling.  Tradition  declares,  that  in  the  excite- 
ment attendant  on  the  scene,  Mr.  Paine's  wig  was  either  knock- 
ed or  fell  off.  Be  this  as  it  may,  from  that  day  he  abjured 
11 


82  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

wig's,  as  much  as  he  had  done  ivhigs,  and  never  wore  one  again 
The  now  dishonored  wig  in  question,  he  gave  to  one  of  his  ne 
gro  slaves,  named  '  Worcester.'  In  the  earlier  days  of  the 
Revolution,  some  American  soldiers  quartered  at  his  house 
repaid  his  perhaps  too  evidently  unwilling  hospitality,  and  sig- 
nified the  intensity  of  their  unequivocal  feelings  towards  him, 
by  cutting  the  throat  of  his  fall-length  portrait,  which  hung  in 
his  parlor."  Mr.  Paine  at  this  time  had  not  removed  into  his  ele- 
gant new  dwelling,  (styled  by  his  descendants  '*  The  Oaks,") 
it  not  having  been  entirely  completed  until  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, although  its  erection  was  begun  before  these  troubles  came 
on. 

The  object  of  the  remarkable  assemblage  above  referred  to, 
having  been  accomplished,  the  majority  of  those  congregated 
relurned  })eacefully  and  quietly  to  their  homes,  but  a  party  of 
about  five  hundred  with  the  Worcester  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, consisting  that  year  of  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  Wil- 
liam Young,  John  Smith,  Joshua  Bigelow,  David  Bancroft, 
Jonathan  Stone,  and  Stephen  Salisbury,  repaired  to  Rutland  to 
ask  the  resignation  of  Col.  Murray,  another  of  the  Mandamus 
Council.  Before  their  arrival  there,  they  were  joined  by  nearly 
a  thousand  men  from  the  Western  towns.  Alarmed  by  the  re- 
ports which  had  reached  him.  Col.  Murray  had  fled  ;  the  state- 
ments of  his  family  that  he  had  gone,  being  distrusted,  his 
house  and  other  buildings  were  diligently  searched  by  the  vast 
crowd,  but  he  ct)uld  not  be  found,  although  the  highest  hay  loft 
of  his  barn  was  penetrated  by  the  investigators.  He  became  a 
refugee,  and  his  vast  estates  were  confiscated,  as  were  also 
those  of  his  son,  Daniel  Murray. 

The  ten  children  of  Hon.  Timothy  and  Sarah  (Chandler) 
Paine  were  : 

1st,  Dr.  William  Paine,  born  June  5, 1750,  married  Sept.  23, 
1773,  Lois  Orne,  daughter  of  Timothy  Orne  of  Salem  ;  2d, 
Timothy,  Jr.,  born  Jan.  5,  1752,  died  Dec.  29.  1775,  at  Men- 
don  ;  3d,  Samuel,  born  Aug.  23, 1754,  left  the  country  with  his 
brother  William  on  account  of  his  loyalist  proclivities,  but  re- 
turned after  the  war,  and  died  in  Worcester  June  21,  1807  ; 
4th,  Hannah,  born  July  22,  1755,  married  Ebcnczer  Bradish  of 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester  83 

Cambridge,  Oct.  21,1772,  and  died  at  Worcester  April  2, 1841  ; 
5th,  Nathaniel,  born  in  1757,  died  in  infancy;  6th,  Nathaniel, 
(afterwards  Judge  of  Probate,)  born  Jan.  5,  1759,  died  Oct.  7, 
1840;  7th,  Anthony,  born  in  1760,  died  in  1788;  8th,  John, 
born  July  26,  1762,  died  Dec.  23,  1732  ;  9th,  Sarah,  born 
March  28,  1764,  married  Jan.  11,  1786,  James  Perkins,  Jr.,  of 
Salem,  died  Dec.  24, 1841 ;  10th,  EHzabeth,  born  Jan.  12, 1766, 
married  in  1786  Dr.  Joseph  Trumbull  of  Petersham,  who  died 
March  2,  1824,  aged  67  ;  she  died  July  10,  1832.  These  were 
parents  of  the  late  George  Augustus  Trumbull  of  Worcester. 
The  latter,  who  died  Aug.  17,  1868,  aged  75,  married  Sept.  20, 
1815,  Louisa  Clapp,  daughter  of  Capt.  Caleb  Clapp  of  Green- 
field, a  veteran  of  eight  years'  service  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Mrs.  Trumbull  still  survives,  hale  and  vigorous  in  her 
79th  year.  She  and  her  husband  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, Sept.  20,  1865,  at  their  mansion  on  Trumbull  Square, 
which  formerly  stood  on  Court  Hill,  being  used  for  the  County 
Court  House  from  1751  to  1803.  Mr.  Trumbull  was  formerly 
bookseller,  publisher  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy  from  1819  to 
1823,  and  afterwards  from  1829  to  1858,  cashier  successively 
of  the  Central  and  Citizens'  Banks  of  Worcester.  The  ten 
children  of  George  A.  and  Louisa  C.  Trumbull  are : 

1st,  Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  31,  1816,  married  Oct.  22,  1835, 
Gen.  William  S.  Lincoln,  son  of  the  late  Gov.  Lincoln  ;  2d, 
George  C.  Trumbull,  born  March  1,  1818,  married  Nancy 
Moore ;  3d,  Caroline  Burling,  born  June  24,  1820,  married 
June  24,  1842,  Francis  Blake,  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Francis 
Blake  ;  4tli,  Louisa  Jane,  born  Oct.  12,  1822,  married  in  1845, 
Henry  Lea,  then  of  Alton,  111.;  5th,  Sarah  Paine  Trumbull, 
born  Aug.  26,  1824,  died  in  1870,  married  in  1847,  her  cousin 
John  Clapp  Ripley  of  Greenfield,  for  nearly  thirty  years  assis- 
tant cashier  and  cashier  of  the  Citizens'  Bank,  until  his  death 
Oct.  8,  1869,  aged  50  ;  6th,  Joseph  Trumbull,  born  July  23, 
1823,  banker  in  New  York,  who  married  first  Francis  T., 
daughter  of  Charles  A.  Hamilton,  and  married  second  Mary 
M.  Johnson  of  New  Orleans  ;  7th,  Charles  Perkins  Trumbull, 
born  Sept.  12,  1830,  Quartermaster  of  the  34th  Reg  t,  M.  V., 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  under  his  brother-in-law,  Gen. 


84  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

W.  S.  Lincoln  ;  8th,  Susan,  born  March  30, 1832  ;  9th,  Isabella 
Frink,  born  March  20,  1834,  married  George  F.  Hartshorn, 
for  many  years  cashier  of  the  Central  Bank  ;  9th,  Mary  Abbot 
Trumbull,'  born  Feb.  2,  1837,  died  May  1864,  married  in  1858, 
Hon.  J.  B.  D.  Coggswell,  in  1866  U.  S.  District  Attorney  of 
Wisconsin,  at  Milwaukee,  afterwards  a  member  successiyely 
of  the  House  and  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  and  now  (1877) 
president  of  the  Senate;  10th,  John  Trumbull,  born  March 
23,  1841. 

Dr.  William  Paine,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1768,  the 
second  in  a  class  of  forty,  when  the  names  were  arranged  ac- 
cording to  the  dignity  of  families.  He  receiyed  his  medical 
education  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Edward  A.  Holyoke  at  Sa- 
lem, and  began  practice  in  Worcester  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1771,  where  he  opened  the  first  apothecary  store  in  the 
county,  on  Court  Hill,  afterwards  continued  by  Dr.  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  others.  Dr.  Paine,  howeyer,  was  not  himself  an 
apothecary,  but  he  subsequently,  after  the  troubles  caused  by  the 
war  were  oyer,  became  distinguished  as  a  man  of  letters  and 
science,  as  well  a  practising  physician.  With  others  of  the 
children  of  the  first  families  in  the  yillage,  at  that  time,  includ- 
ing his  cousins,  the  sons  of  the  first  Judge  Chandler,  Dr.  Paine 
was  in  his  early  youth  a  pupil  of  President  Adams,  when  the 
latter  taught  school  in  Worcester.  Mr.  Adams,  in  his  diary 
thus  refers  to  a  yisit  he  made  here  in  1771,  and  to  some  of  his 
former  pupils : 

''  Sunday,  June  22, 1771.  Heard  Mr.  Wheeler  [Rey.  Joseph 
Wheeler,  father  of  Theophilus  Wheeler,]  late  minister  of  Har- 
vard, at  Worcester  all  day.  Here  I  saw  many  faces  much 
altered  since  I  first  knew  this  place,  which  is  now  sixteen  years. 
Here  I  saw  many  young  gentlemen  who  were  nay  scholars  and 
pupils  when  I  kept  school  here ;  John  Chandler,  Esq.,  of  Pe- 
tersham ;  Rufus  Chandler,  the  lawyer ;  Dr.  William  Paine, 
who  now  studies  medicine  with  Dr.  Holyoke  of  Salem  ;  Nathan- 
iel Chandler,  who  studies  law  with  Mr.  Putnam ;  and  Thad- 
deus  Maccarty,  [son  of  the  minister,]  who  is  now  in  the 
practice  of  physic  at  Dudley  ;  most  of  these  began  to  learn 
Latin  with  me.     Drank  tea  with   Mr.  Paine,  Mrs.  Paine,  Dr. 


Beminiscenc&s  of  Worcester.  85 

Holyokc's  lady,  and  Dr.  Billy  Paine.     The  Doctor  is   a  very 
civil,  agreeable  and  sensible  young  gentleman." 

Dr.  Paine  inlierited  the  loyal  feelings  of  his  fanaily,  and  early 
identified  himself  with  the  royal  cause,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
movement  toward  the  Revolution.  The  bold  and  celebrated 
protest  of  June  20,  1774,  by  fifty-two  loyalists  out  of  the 
two  hundred  and  fifty  legal  voters  in  Worcester  against  the 
*' treasonable  doings"  of  the  patriots  or  Whigs,  was  the  joint 
production  of  Dr.  Paine  and  his  uncle.  Attorney  General  Put- 
nam. The  recording  of  this  protest,  which  denounced  those 
engaged  in  the  great  movement  of  the  time  for  liberty,  against 
British  oppression,  as  "  violators  of  all  law  and  civil  liberty, 
malevolent  disturbers  of  the  peace,  and  enemies  of  mankind," 
by  the  tory  Town  Clerk,  after  the  paper  had  been  indignant- 
ly repudiated  and  refused  acceptance,  in  the  town  meeting  where 
it  had  been  acted  upon,  naturally  created  a  storm  of  indig- 
nant denunciation  upon  the  head  of  the  Town  Clerk,  Clark 
Chandler,  who  was  double  first-cousin  of  Dr.  Paine,  and  otiiers 
connected  with  the  transaction.  The  first  knowledge  the  pat- 
riots, or  Whigs,  had  of  the  transaction,  that  sentiments  so  an- 
tagonistic to  the  views  of  the  great  majority  of  the  voters  of 
the  town  were  on  record-  on  the  same  pages  with  their  own 
patriotic  declarations,  was  derived  from  the  Boston  newspapers, 
whither  the  recorded  protest  had  been  sent  for  publication. 
Discouraged  and  mortified  beyond  description,  the  people  as- 
sembled in  town  meeting,  and  after  denouncing  in  unmeasured 
terms  the  protest  and  its  authors,  voted,  "That  the  Town 
Clerk  do,  in  presence  of  the  Town,  erase  or  otherwise  deface, 
the  said  recorded  protest,  and  the  names  thereto  subscribed,  so 
that  it  may  become  utterly  illegible  and  unintelligible."  Also, 
"  That  the  signers  of  said  protest  be  deemed  unworthy  of  hold- 
ing any  town  office  or  honor  until  they  have  made  satisfaction 
for  their  offence,  as  public  as  the  protest  was,"  etc.  An  exam- 
ination of  the  records  shows  how  effectively  this  vote  was  car- 
carried  out.  After  the  pen  had  done  its  thorough  work  in 
making  the  words  unintelligible  and  unreadible,  the  pages  were 
further  defaced  by  Clerk  Chandler  dipping  his  fingers  in  the 
ink  and  drawing  them  over  every  line,  all  done  in  open  town 
meeting. 


86  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  Massachusetts  Spy  of  Sept.  15,  1774,  (then  printed  in 
Boston,)  had  this  statement :  "We  have  received  from  Worces- 
ter tlie  recantation  of  John  Chandler,  Esq.,  and  forty-two 
others  of  protesters  against  the  proceedings  of  that  town,  which 
gave  snch  just  cause  of  offence  to  the  public  ;  as  also  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  six  justices  of  that  county  for  having  aspersed 
the  people  in  an  address  to  Gov.  Gage."  Some  of  these  re- 
cantations, extorted  by  a  force  too  powerful  to  be  rc:^isted  at 
the  time,  did  not  prove  permanent. 

Dr.  Paine  soon  after  left  for  England,  but  returned  in  May, 
1775,  when  he  found  so  much  denunciation  of  himself  and 
others  like  him  as  tories,  the  battle  of  Lexington  and  Concord 
having  in  the  meanwhile  completely  changed  the  aspect  of  af- 
fairs since  he  left  here,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  remain 
without  surrendering  all  his  royalist  feelings,  and  he  immedi- 
ately re-embarked  for  London.  In  November  following,  he 
accepted  a  commission  as  Surgeon  in  the  British  army,  and 
joined  the  royal  forces  in  America,  serving  in  New  York  and 
Rhode  Island.  In  1782,  he  was  appointed  Surgeon-general  of 
the  army,  and  stationed  at  Halifax.  He  was  afterwards  a 
member  of  the  New  Brunsw^ick  Assembly  from  St.  Johns',  and 
Clerk  of  that  body.  He  was  subsequently  commissioned  Sur- 
geon-general of  the  Kings  forces  in  America.  The  act  of  ban- 
ishment against  him  being  rescinded  in  1787,  he  returned  to  his 
jiative  country,  and  resided  in  Salem,  among  the  relatives  of 
his  wife,  till  1793,  when,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  he  return- 
to  Worcester,  and  took  possession  of  the  family  estate. 

Since  his  first  departure  from  his  native  tow^n,  how  great  had 
been  the  change !  Dr.  Paine  had  been  denounced  by  Isaiah 
Thomas,  in  his  vigilant  organ  of  the  patriot  cause,  the  Massa- 
chusetts Spy  of  Oct.  20,  1775,  as  one  of  "  those  vermin,  or 
worse,  emmisaries  of  tyranny,  crawling  out  of  Boston  to  his 
forfeited  seat  in  Worcester,  there  to  avail  himself  of  the  good 
opinion  of  the  people,  in  order  to  play  his  part :  or  by  some 
method  weaken  the  Union,  or  form  some  diabolical  plan  for 
the  ministry  to  save  the  supremacy  of  parliament,  under  some 
soft,  sophistical,  reconciliatory  terms."  The  great  offence  of 
Dr.  Paine's  life,  loyalty  to  the  British  sovereign,  was  at  last  foi-- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  87 

given  by  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  which  in  1825,  pass- 
ed a  special  act  granting  him  by  name  the  rights  of  an  Ameri- 
can citizen.  Of  this  privilege  he  never  availed  himself,  except 
to  hold  property  in  his  own  name,  hitherto  retained  in  the'nom- 
inal  possession  of  his  brother.  Judge  Nathaniel  Paine.  Dr. 
Paine  died  April  19,  1833,  aged  83,  at  the  old  family  home- 
stead, "The  Oaks"- — an  inflexible  loyalist  to  the  last,  passing 
out  of  the  world  on  the  fifty-eighth  anniversary  of  the  Battle 
of  Lexington. 

Ebenezer  Bradish  of  Cambridge,  who  married  Dr.^Paine's 
sister  Hannah,  was  also  a  loyalist  during  the  Revolution, "after- 
wards Clerk  of  the  Courts  of  Middlesex  county,  and  died  in 
1818.  Their  daughter,  Elizabeth  Bradish,  married  Walter 
Burling  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  of  whose  four  children,  the  oldest, 
Caroline  Burling,  born  in  1801,  married  in  1822,  James  Bra- 
zer,  son  of  Samuel  Brazer,  merchant,  of  Worcester,  and  she 
married  for  her  second  husband,  William  Kinnicutt,  brother 
of  the  late  Judge  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  of  Worcester ;  and  her 
sister  Harriet  Paine  Bradish,  born  in  1805,  married  Oct.  22, 
1827,  the  late  Judge  Kinnicutt,  wdio  died  in  1858,  the  latter's 
wife  Harriet,  who  died  Sept.  29,  1838,  being  the  first  person 
buried  in  Rural  Cemetery.  Mrs.  Kinnicutt's  sister,  Frances 
Sophia  Burling,  married  Sept.  4,  1825,  Edward  Joseph  Yose, 
a  lawyer  here,  who  died  in  1831.  The  latter  was  son  of  Solo- 
m.on  Yose  of  Augusta,  Me.,  by  his  wife,  Elizabeth  P.  Chandler, 
daughter  of  Rufus  Chandler,  and  granddaughter  of  the  last 
Judge  John  Chandler.  Mrs.  E.  J.  Yose  afterwards  married  in 
1836,  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Yail,  now  Bishop  of  Kansas.  Her 
brother  Timothy  Paine  Bradish,  born  in  1781,  married  in  1818 
Charlotte  Paine,  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Nathaniel  Paine. 

Dr.  William  and  Lois  (Orne)  Paine  had  five  children :  1st, 
Esther  Orne,  born  Aug.  29,  1774,  married  first  Sept.  10, 1795, 
her  first  cousin,  Joseph  Cabot  of  Salem,  father  of  Mayor  Jo- 
seph Sebastian  Cabot  of  that  city,  and  of  Wm.  Paine  Cabot; 
married,  second,  Nov.  5,  1811,  Ichabod  Tucker  of  Worcester, 
and  died  Jan.  29, 1854,  aged  80.  2d,  Harriet  Paine,  born  Nov. 
21,  1779,  at  Newport,  R.  L,  married  March  17,  1802,  Joseph 
Warner  Rose,  an  English  landed  proprietor  and  Consul  at  An- 


88  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

tigua,  W.  I.  Of  the  children  of  the  latter,  Harriet  (Paine) 
Rose,  born  in  1804,  married  in  1826,  John  Clarke  Lee  of  ISalem, 
of  whose  ten  children,  Rose  Lee,  born  in  1835,  married  in  1854 
Hon.  Leverett  Saltonstall  of  Salem,  Josephine  Lee  married 
William  Saltonstal  and  Marj  Ann  Lee  married  S.  Endicott 
Peabody  of  the  banking  house  of  Morgan,  Peabody  &  Co.,  of 
London,  Eng.  The  other  daughter  of  Joseph  Warner  and 
Harriet  (Paine)  Rose,  married  in  1842,  her  third  cousin, 
Dr.  George  Chandler  of  Worcester.  3d,  William  Fitz  Paine, 
born  Nov.  2,  1783,  at  Halifax,  N.  S.,  graduated  at  Harvard 
in  1797,  visited  various  countries  in  the  East,  in  a  mercan- 
tile capacity,  and  established  a  mercantile  house  at  Batavia, 
Island  of  Java,  where  he  died  July  31,  1834.  4th,  Elizabeth 
Putnam  Paine,  born  June  26,  1786,  at  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  and 
died  at  Worcester,  April  30,  1810.  5th,  Frederick  William 
Paine,  born  in  Salem  May  23,  1788,  removed  with  his  father 
to  Worcester  in  1793,  and  succeeded  to  tlie  ancestral  estate. 
He  graduated  at  Harvard  and  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
A.  M.  in  1819,  and  after  travelling  for  several  years  around  the 
world,  married  May  5,  1822,  Anne  Cushing  Sturgis,  daughter 
of  Hon.  Russell  and  Elizabeth  (Perkins)  Sturgis  of  Boston, 
and  iieice  of  James  and  Thomas  H.  Perkins.  This  was  the 
first  marriage  which  took  place  in  Boston  after  it  became  a 
city.  He  afterwards  travelled  extensively,  visiting  various 
countries.  Among  the  numerous  positions  he  filled  were  those 
of  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Selectman,  and  Asses- 
sor, being  chairman  of  the  board  of  Selectmen  five  years  of 
the  ten  he  was  an  active  member  thereof,  and  being  its  chair- 
man the  last  year  of  the  town  organization  in  1847-8.  He 
was  President  of  the  old  Worcester  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  for  38  years,  from  1831  until  his  death  in  1869,  and 
an  officer  of  many  other  business  associations.  He  was  noted 
for  extensive  literary  research,  and  as  a  successful  amateur  in 
horticulture.  The  additions  made  by  him  to  the  extensive  li- 
brary at  ''  The  Oaks,"  made  it  one  of  the  largest  and  most  val- 
uable private  collections  in  the  State.  As  an  index  of  his  early 
scholarship,  it  may  be  stated  that  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  Fred- 
erick William  corrected  the  proof  sheets  of  the  first  edition  of 


Reminiscences  of    Woi'cester.  89 

the  New  Testament  printed  in  America  in  the  original  Greek 
language.  This  was  printed  and  published  in  1800  by  Isaiah 
Thomas  at  the  office  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  the  oldest 
printing  office  in  the  Commonwealth,  Mr.  Thomas  for  many 
years  doing  the  largest  business  in  the  printing  and  publishing 
line  of  any  person  in  tlie  United  States.  A  copy  of  this  book 
owned  in  1807  by  Nathaniel  Anthony  Paine,  is  now  in  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Daniel  Seagrave.  The  title  page  bears  the  follow- 
ing imprint : 

"Wigorniffi,  Massachusettensi:  Excudebat  Isaias  Thomas,  singulatim   et 
numerose  eo  vendita  OfficiniB  suae :  April — 1800." 

Dr.  Paine's  brother,  Judge  Nathaniel  Paine,  was  born  Jan. 
5,  1759,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1785,  studied  law  with  Hon. 
Jolui  Sprague  of  Lancaster,  practised  several  years  in  Groton, 
and  returned  to  Worcester  in  1785,  when  he  became  County 
Attorney,  which  office  he  filled  until  1801  when  he  was  appoint- 
ed Judge  of  Probate,  holding  the  latter  office  until  1836.  He 
married  Dec.  18,  1785,  his  cousin  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Slier- 
iff  Gardner  Chandler.  Judge  Paine  died  Oct.  7,  1840,  aged 
nearly  81.  His  residence  was  on  the  north  corner  of  Main 
and  Pleasant  streets,  and  his  old  mansion,  removed  in  1844  to 
make  way  for  tlie  brick  block  then  erected  on  its  site  by  his  son 
Charles,  now  stands  on  the  west  side  of  Salem  street.  The 
Judge  had  his  private  office  in  a  small  building  which  stood  on 
tlie  corner  just  southeast  of  his  residence.  His  estate  com- 
prised nearly  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  (held  in  right  of  his 
wife,)  bounded  east  and  south  by  Main  and  Pleasant  streets, 
and  extending  west  and  north  nearly  or  quite  to  Fruit  and  Elm 
streets.  The  children  of  Judge  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Chandler)  Paine  were  :  1st,  Nancy  Leonard  Paine,  born  Nov. 
25,  1786,  died  Jan.  8,  1802;  2d,  Charlotte  Paine,  born  Aug.  9, 
1788,  died  Dec.  3,  1866,  married  Sept.  23,  1818,  Timothy 
Bradish,  and  they  had  Walter  Burling  Bradish,  who  was  born 
at  Natchez,  Miss.,  Dec.  14,  1820,  and  died  Jan.  1856  ;  3d,  Na- 
thaniel Anthony  Paine,  born  Nov.  29,1791,  died  Feb.  19, 1819  ; 
4th,  Sarah  Chandler  Paine,  born  Nov.  20,  1794,  died  Oct.  15, 
1840  ;  5th,  Maj.  Gardner  Paine,  born  May  23,  1799,  died  Jan. 
29,  1854,  married  Oct.  11,  1831,  Emily  Baker,  daughter  of 
12 


90  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

EUphalet  and  Anne  Baker  of  Dedliam  ;  Gth,  Henry  Paine,  law- 
yer, born  Aug.  12,  1804,  died  April  21,  1844  ;  Ttli,  Charles, 
(twin  brother  of  Henry,)  inherited  the  paternal  estate,  died 
Aug.  8,  1866,  married  first  in  1841,  Elizabeth  Ferguson,  mar- 
ried second  in  1843,  Hannah  Worthington  Kingsbury  of  Spring- 
field, and  married  third  in  1848,  Margaret  Porter  Webb  of 
Salem.  Charles  and  Hannah  (Worthington)  Paine's  daughter 
Alice  W.,  born  in  1847,  married  June  3,  1873,  James  C.  Davis 
of  Boston,  and  Charles  and  Margaret  Paine's  daughter  Eliza- 
beth F.  Paine,  born  in  1849,  married  June  12,  1872,  W^illiam 
W.  Chamberlain,  son  of  Henry  H.  Chamberlin  of  Worcester. 

Maj.  Gardner  and  Emily  (Baker)  Paine  had  :  1st,  Nathaniel 
Paine,  born  Aug.  6.  1832,  cashier  of  the  City  Bank  since  1857, 
married  June  14,  1864,  Susan  Maria,  daughter  of  Willet  Brad- 
ley Barnes  of  New  Haven,  Ct.;  2d,  Anne  Eliza  Paine,  born 
Jan.  20,  1835. 

Frederick  William  and  Anne  Cushing  (Sturgis)  Paine  had 
six  children:  1st,  William  Russell  Paine,  born  Jan.  29,  1823, 
died  Jan.  9,  1877,  married  April  12.  1855,  Frances  Thomas 
Crocker,  daughter  of  William  A.  Crocker  of  Taunton,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  Isaiah  Thomas  LL.  D.,  of  Worcester, 
and  had  five  children  ;  5d,  Elizabeth  Orne,  married  in  1851, 
married  her  first  cousin,  Henry  Parkman  Sturgis  now  of  Spain; 
3d,  James  Perkins,  born  Dec.  16,  1827,  married  Sarah  Loring 
Turner  of  Boston,  now  residing  on  a  portion  of  the  ancestral 
estate,  and  has  four  children  ;  4th,  Mary  Pickard,  married  hi 
1851  Allyn  Weston  of  Duxbury,  and  died  Sept.  1,  1853;  5th, 
Geo.  Sturgis,  born  June  4, 1833,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1853, 
made  the  tour  of  Europe  in  1854,  and  again  in  1858-59,  and  is 
a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  now  residing  at  '^  The 
Oaks,"  with  his  mother ;  6th,  Anne  Cushing  Sturgis,  born 
March  5,  1836,  died  Nov.  19,  1874.  Their  father,  Frederick 
William  Paine,  died  Sept.  16,  1869,  in  his  82d  year,  and  their 
mother  still  survives,  hale  and  vigorous,  in  her  80th  year. 

The  Putnam  Family. 

Hon.  James  Putnam,  the  distinguished  lawyer  of  Worcester 
during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  preceding  the  Revolution, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  01 

was  born  in  that  part  of  Salem,  now  Danvers,  in  1725,  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  University  in  1T4G,  studied  law  with  Chief 
Justice  Edmund  TroAvbridge  at  Cambridge,  (uncle  of  Dea. 
William  Trowbridge  of  Worcester,)  and  settled  in  Worcester 
in  1749,  where  he  became  the  peer  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  his 
time  in  New  England,  succeeding  Trowbridge  as  Attorney  Gen- 
eral of  the  Province,  when  the  latter  became  Chief  Justice. 
James  Putnam  was  married  by  Chief  Justice  Stephen  Sewall, 
Sept.  20, 1754,  to  Elizabeth  Chandler,  daughter  of  Judge  John 
and  Hannah  (Gardner)  Chandler,  thus  becoming,  on  settling 
here,  a  brother-in-law  of  the  last  Judge  John  Chandler,  Sheriff 
Gardner  Chandler,  and  Hon.  Timothy  Paine.  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Putnam  resided,  while  in  Worcester,  on  the  spot  after- 
wards occupied  by  the  late  Chief  Justice  Charles  Allen,  corner 
of  Main  and  Park  streets,  his  estate,  which  was  confiscated  at 
the  Revolution,  comprising  about  eighty  acres  southerly  and 
easterly  of  Main  and  Park  streets,  the  first  occupants  after  Mr. 
Putnam  left  being  successively  Hon.  Joseph  Allen  and  Col. 
Samuel  Flagg,  the  old  house  being  burned  m  1786  while  Col. 
Flagg  resided  there.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt,  the  owner  of 
the  estate  previous  to  Judge  Allen  being  Daniel  Clapp,  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds  from  1784  to  1816.  Mr.  Putnam  had  his  law 
office  on  the  grounds  of  his  brother-in-law.  Sheriff  Gardner 
Chandler,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  just  in  front  of 
the  present  residence  of  Dr.  Joseph  Sargent.  In  this  office 
John  Adams,  afterwards  President  of  the  United  States,  studi- 
ed law  in  1755,  ^b^^  and  '57,  and  boarded  in  Mr.  Putnam's 
family  while  he  was  keeping  the  Grammar  School  of  the  vil- 
lage, then  just  started,  in  a  small  building  afterwards  convert- 
ed into  a  dwelling,  which  stood  on  the  north  corner  of  Main 
and  Mechanic  streets.  When  asked,  in  1758,  by  Col.  Ephraim 
Doolittle  and  Nathan  Baldwin,  leading  patriots  here,  to  settle 
in  Worcester  as  an  opponent  to  the  loyalists  and  office  holders, 
the  Chandlers,  Putnam,  and  Paine,  John  Adams  declined,  giv- 
ing among  other  reasons,  in  his  (fwn  words,  "  that  the  Chand- 
lers were  worthy  people,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  their 
offices  well,  I  envied  not  their  felicity,  and  had  no  desire  to  set 
myself  in  opposition  to  them,  especially  to  Mr.  Putnam,  who 


92  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

had   married   a  beautiful   daughter    of    that   family,  and   had 
treated  me  with  civility  aud  kiudness." 

.  Attorney  General  Putnam  was  termed  by  Chief  Justice  Par- 
gous,  "  the  best  lawyer  in  Xorth  America."  He  was  Judge  of 
tlie  Court  of  General  Sessions,  colonel  of  a  regiment,  and  fill- 
ed many  local  offices,  besides  those  of  enlarged  responsibility. 
During  the  exciting  controversies  in  the  town  meetings  here 
preceding  the  Revolution,  he  took  the  lead  and  threw  the 
whole  weight  and  influence  of  his  reputation  and  character  as 
an  eloquent  orator  and  legal  advocate,  to  sustain  the  royal  gov- 
ernment, and  of  course  was  among  the  proscribed.  He  accom- 
panied the  British  army  to  New  York,  and  then  went  to  Hali- 
fax. In  1784  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Council  of 
New  Brunswick,  and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that 
Province.  He  resided  in  the  city  of  St.  John,  and  retained 
the  office  of  Judge  until  his  death  Oct.  23,  1789,  aged  64  yrs. 

The  children  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Chandler)  Putnam 
Avore:  1st,  James  Putnam,  Jr.,  born  Nov.  15,  1756,  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1774,  refugee  with  his  father  in  1775,  "  one  of 
tlie  eighteen  country  gentlemen  who  were  driven  to  Boston," 
died  in  England  in  1838  while  a  member  of  the  household  of 
the  Duke  of  Kent,  aged  82,  leaving  no  issue;  2d,  John  Put- 
nam, born  1758,  died  young  ;  3d,  Ebenezcr  Putnam,  born  Jan. 
26,  1763,  married  Dec.  2,  1786,  Elizabetli  Chandler,  daughter 
of  Judge  John  and  Mary  (Church)  Chandler,  and  resided  in 
St.  John,  N.  B.,  where  Ebenezcr  died  in  1798,  aged  35  ;  and 
on  a  tombstone  in  Mechanic  street  burying  ground  in  Worces- 
ter is  this  inscription,  ''  Died  Jan.  18,  1820,  Elizabeth,  relic  of 
Ebenezcr  Putnam  of  St.  John,  N.  B.,aged  50,"  and  on  another 
near  it,  "  Died  Aug.  18,  1810,  James  Putnam,  son  of  Ebenezcr 
and  Elizabeth  Putnam,  late  of  St.  Jolm,  X.  B.,  aud  gitindson 
of  Hon.  James  Putnam,  formerly  of  Worcester,  aged  26,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  University." 

After  Ebenezcr  Putnam's  death  at  St.  John  in  1798,  his  wid- 
ow Elizabeth  returned  to  Worcester  and  lived  with  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Stanton.  Besides  their  son  James,  who  died  of  rheu- 
matic fever,  while  a  medical  student  with  Dr.  Nathan  Smith  at 
Dartmouth  College  in  1810,  Ebenezcr  and  Elizabeth  Putnam 
had  the  followino:  children  : 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester  03 

1st,  Jolui  Chandler  Putnam,  born  in  1792,  merchant  in  Bos- 
ton, married  Abby  Smith,  and  died  in  1840,  at  Hartford;  2d, 
Cliarles  S.  Putnam,  married  Eleanor  Millidge  of  Annapolis, 
N.  S.,  died  in  1837,  and  had  three  children  ;  3d,  Francis 
Ebenezer  Putnam,  who  married  Anne  Carrie  of  St.  Andrew, 
N.  B.,  and  died  in  Boston  in  1839,  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College,  and  a  lawyer. 

The  three  children  of  Charles  S.  and  Eleanor  (Millidge) 
Putnam  are:  John,  lawyer  in  London,  Eng.;  2d,  Elizabeth, 
married  Robert  Lloyd  in  London,  Eng.;  3d,  Fanny,  married 
Rev.  Wm.  Shore,  Eng. 

The  Putnams  are  descendants  of  John  and  Priscilla  Putnam, 
who  came  from  Buckinghamshire,  England,  in  1(334,  and  set- 
tled in  that  part  of  Salem,  now  Danvers,  with  three  children, 
Thomas,  Nathaniel,  and  John,  between  four  and  eighteen  years 
old;  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  was  born  after  their  arrival.  The 
father  died  Dec.  30,  1662.  John,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  1630, 
was  a  lieutenant,  and  Representative  in  the  General  Court. 
He  married,  Sept.  3,  1652,  Rebecca  Prince,  by  whom  he  had 
ten  children,  born  in  Salem  between  1653  and  1673,  as  follows  : 
Rebecca,  Sarah,  Priscilla,  Jonathan,  James,  Hannah,  Eleazer, 
John,  Joanna,  and  Ruth.  Of  these,  James,  born  Sept.  4, 1661, 
was  grandfather  of  Hon.  James  Putnam,  the  distinguished  loy- 
alist and  lawyer  of  Worcester  ;  the  Attorney  General's  father, 
born  in  Feb.  1690,  the  third  of  nine  children,  being  also  named 
James.  As  the  Attorney  General  had  a  son  and  a  grandson  of 
the  same  name,  there  were  thus  five  generations  of  James  Put- 
nams, from  the  son  of  the  second  John  of  Salem,  to  the  last 
one  who  sleeps  in  the  Mechanic  street  burial  ground  of  Wor- 
cester. One  branch  of  the  descendants  of  the  first  Thomas, 
born  in  England  in  1616,  who  had  three  sons.  Sergeant  Thom- 
as, Dea.  Edward,  and  Joseph,  settled  "in  Sutton,  and  of  these, 
the  distinguished  Maj.  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  born  in  Sutton  in 
1738,  is  the  grandson  of  Dea.  Edward  and  Mary  (Holton)  Put- 
nam, and  son  of  Elisha  Putnam,  the  latter  being  born  in  Salem 
Nov.  3,  1685.  The  celebrated  revolutionary  hero,  Maj.  Gen: 
Israel  Putnam,  who  was  born  in  Salem  in  1718,  and  removed 
to  Pomfret,  Ct.,  \\\  1739,  and  astonished  the  world  by  his  dar- 


94  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

ing  exploits,  was  the  tenth  of  eleven  children  of  Joseph  Put- 
nam, above  mentioned,  by  his  wife  Elizabeth  Porter,  making 
the  two  generals  bear  the  relationship  to  each  other  of  first  and 
second  cousins.  Their  relationship  to  the  Attorney  General, 
whose  great-grandfather  John  was  a  brother  of  Israel's  grand- 
father and  Rufus'  great-grandfather  Thomas,  was  more  distant. 
The  story  of  •'  Old  Put "  is  familiar  to  all.  He  died  at  Brook- 
lyn, Ct.,  in  1790,  leaving  numerous  descendants,  of  whom  his 
son.  Col.  Israel,  Jr.,  died  in  Belpre,  Ohio,  in  1812.  His  son, 
Rev.  Daniel  Putnam,  and  grandson,  Rev.  Aaron  Putnam, 
successively  ministers  at  Pomfret,  resided  upon  the  old  estate. 
The  last  one  died  in  1813,  aged  79.  On  the  morning  of  April 
20,  1775,  the  startling  news  from  Lexington  and  Concord, 
which  reached  Pomfret  about  eight  o'clock,  found  Gen.  Put- 
nam at  work  plowing  upon  his  farm,  in  leathern  frock  and 
apron,  with  his  hired  men,  and  son  Daniel,  then  a  lad  of  six- 
teen, the  driver  of  his  team,  whom  he  left  to  unyoke  his  oxen 
in  the  furrow,  and  follow  him  not  many  days  after  to  camp. 
Without  stopping  to  change  his  clothes,  the  old  hero  left  im- 
mediately for  the  scene  of  conflict,  reaching  Cambridge,  through 
Worcester  and  Concord,  by  the  old  travelled  route,  early  the 
next  morning. 

"Old  Put's"  distinguished  relative.  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam, 
also  a  revolutionary  hero,  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  but  before 
attaining  his  majority,  he  in  1756  enlisted  in  the  war  against 
the  French,  rising  to  the  rank  of  ensign.  After  the  war  he 
settled  in  Brooktield,  working  at  his  trade  as  well  as  farming. 
In  1773  he  went  on  an  expedition  to  the  newly  created  Prov- 
ince of  West  Florida,  (afterwards  Louisiana.)  In  1775,  he 
entered  into  the  Continental  service  as  Lieut.  Colonel,  in  1776 
was  appointed  engineer  with  the  rank  of  Colonel,  and  in  1777 
commanded  a  regiment  in  the  old  Massachusetts  line.  He 
constructed  the  fortifications  at  West  Point,  and  Jan.  7,  1783, 
was  commissioned  Brigadier  General.  Before  retiring  from 
the  service  at  the  return  of  peace,  he  removed  his  family  from 
Brookfield  to  Rutland,  at  which  latter  place  he  purchased  in 
1781  and  afterwards  resided  upon  the  confiscated  estate  of 
Daniel  Murray,  (son  of  the  noted  tory,  Col.   John  Murray,) 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  95 

comprising  about  two  hundred  acres  of  land  located  half  a 
mile  west  of  the  meeting  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  county 
road  to  Oakham.  This  estate  was  bounded  on  the  east  and 
west  by  the  confiscated  lands  of  Col.  John  Murray,  who  was 
before  the  Revolution  the  wealthiest  and  most  extensive  land 
owner  in  that  town,  his  residence  (as  well  as  the  larger^ portion 
of  his  estate,)  being  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  nearly  oppo- 
site that  of  his  son  Daniel,  whose  house  he  probably  built  for 
him  on  a  portion  of  the  estate  originally  belonging  to  the  fa- 
ther. The  cellar  hole  of  the  old  mansion  of  the  distinguished 
royalist.  Col.  John,  torn  down  about  a  dozen  years  ago,  after 
the  old  homestead  had  passed  through  several  ^owners,  still  re- 
mains as  a  memento  of  the  past.  The  residence  of  his  son 
Daniel,  on  the  other  side  of  the  road,  afterwards  owned  and 
occupied  by  Gen.  Putnam,  is  still  standing,  it  having  been  for 
rnore  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  owned  and  occupied  by 
Benjamin  Mead  and  his  son  the  late  Dea. William  Mead. 

But,  meritorious  and  noteworthy  as  were  his  military  achieve- 
ments and  career.  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam's  greatest  renown  is 
of  a  civic  nature,  arising  from  his  being  the  organiser  of  the 
great  Northwest  Territory,  entitling  him  to  the  cognomen  of 
being  the  ••'  father  of  the  Western  Country."  During  the  years 
1784  and  1785,  while  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  from 
Rutland,  he  was  actively  engaged  in  unsuccessful  efforts  to  se- 
cure from  Congress  an  appropriation  of  land  in  what  was  then 
called  the  "  Great  Northwest  Territory,"  (comprising  all  the 
present  States  north  of  the  Ohio  river  between  Pennsylvania 
and  the  Mississippi  river,)  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  had 
served  during  the  revolutionary  war.  On  the  night  of  Jan.  9, 
1786,  he  held  a  conference  at  his  residence  in  Rutland,  with 
friends  associated  with  him  in  the  enterprise,  who  had  just 
returned  from  an  extended  tour  into  that  then  distant  region, 
bringing  favorable  reports  of  the  prospects  of  the  undertaking, 
the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  land,  etc.,  the  result  of  which 
conference,  lasting  nearly  all  night,  was,  the  abandonment  of 
all  hope  of  aid  from  Congress,  and  an  effort  which  terminated 
successfully  through  associated  individual  effort,  under  the  lead 
of  Gen.  Putnam,  in  giving  existence  to  the  now  great  State  of 


96  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Ohio,  and  other  States  since  organized  from  the  territory  allud- 
ed to.  A  public  notice  was  immediately  issued,  addressed  to 
officers  and  soldiers  and  other  good  citizens  to  meet  in  Bos- 
ton by  delegates  to  be  chosen  in  the  several  counties,  on  the 
first  day  of  March,  1786,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  an  asso- 
ciation to  be  called  the  "  Ohio  Company,  whose  purpose  shall 
be  the  purchase  of  lanQs  in  the  Western  Country,  and  a  settle- 
ment thereon." 

This  convention  was  held  accordingly.  Gen.  Putnam  presid- 
ing, when  the  "  Ohio  Company  "  was  formed,  and  the  direction 
of  its  affairs  was  entrusted  to  him.  After  two  years  of  ener- 
getic and  successful  effort,  resulting  in  the  purchase  of  one  mil- 
lion and ,  a  half  acres  of  government  land  by  the  company, 
Putnam  planted  himself  with  fifty  other  persons,  many  of  them 
from  Rutland,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1788,  in  the  wilderness  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Ohio  river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musking- 
gum,  and  they  called  their  settlement  Marietta,  from  Marie 
Antoinette  of  France.  This  w^as  the  germ,  not  only  of  the 
great  State  of  Ohio,  which  Putnam  lived  to  see  a  flourishing 
State  having  seventy  counties  and  70,000  inhabitants,  but  also 
of  the  numerous  States  since  organized  in  that  direction. 

In  1786,  Putnam  was  appointed  by  Washington  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  Nortliwest  Territory,  in  1791  he  was 
appointed  Brigadier  General  of  the  United  States  Army  under 
Wayne  and  commissioned  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  Indians 
on  the  Wabash.  In  1795  he  was  appointed  by  President  Wasli- 
ington  Surveyor  General  of  the  United  States  lands,  wliich 
position  he  held  until  he  was  removed  by  Jefferson  in  1803. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  framed  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1802.  With  others,  in  1812,  he 
formed  the  first  Bible  Society  organized  west  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  and  in  Sabbath  School  and  missionary  enterprises 
he  w^as  deeply  interested. 

Gen.  Rufus  Putnam  married  Jan.  10,  1765,  Persis  Rice, 
daughter  of  Zebulon  and  Abigail  Rice  of  Westborough,  the 
General  being  then  a  resident  of  Brookfield.  His  wife,  Persis, 
was  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Rice  of  Marlborough,  the  latter 
being  tlie  oldest  brother  of  Jojias  and  Gershom  Rice,  the  first 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  97 

permanent  settlers  in  Worcester.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Ma- 
rietta, Ohio,  May  1,  1824,  after  a  residence  there  of  thirty-six 
years,  aged  86,  leaving  several  children  and  many  grandchil- 
dren, of  whom  one  son,  William  Rufus  Putnam,  died  at  Mari- 
etta, Jan.  1,  1855,  aged  85. 

Gen.  Putnam  at  his  decease  was  the  oldest  surviving  general 
officer  of  the  Revolution,  except  Lafayette.  While  a  resident 
of  Rutland,  besides  his  more  enlarged  duties,  he  served  as 
constable,  collector  of  taxes,  selectman,  and  in  other  local  po- 
sitions. He  sold  his  estate  in  Rutland  in  1792  to  Stephen  Sib- 
ley of  Sutton,  and  the  latter  in  1796  sold  it  to  Benjamin  Mead, 
Jr.,  father  of  the  late  Dea.  William  Mead,  who  died  there  in 
1874,  aged  84,  the  estate  being  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
his  son,  Elias  Mead.  The  old  mansion  still  remains  very  much 
the  same  as  it  was,  the  papering  of  some  of  the  rooms  being 
the  same  put  on  by  Gen.  Putnam  himself. 

When  the  magnificent  new  State  House  for  Ohio,  at  Colum- 
bus, was  built,  some  doors  were  taken  from  what  was  then  sup- 
posed to  be  tlie  residence  of  Gen.  Putnam  in  Rutland,  to  form 
a  part  of  the  new  structure,  as  a  memorial  of  the  distinguished 
founder  of  that  State ;  but  by  a  sad  mistake  the  doors  of  the 
old  mansion  of  Col.  John  Murray,  torn  down  at  that  time,  were 
taken  instead  of  those  from  the  former  residence  of  Gen. 
Putnam.  But  the  old  hero  has  a  more  enduring  memorial  in 
history,  and  in  tlie  hearts  of  the  people  of  the  great  north 
west,  than  could  be  embodied  in  physical  shape. 

At  the  time  of  the  emigration  of  Gen.  Putnam  with  his  fam- 
ily and  others  from  New  England  to  Ohio  in  1788,  the  route 
and  mode  of  travel  were  more  circuitous  and  difficult  tiian  at 
present,  there  being  no  railroad,  stage  or  steamboat,  and  in 
numerous  instances  not  even  a  cart  path  through  the  wilder- 
ness, ox-wagons  constituting  the  most  rapid  as  well  as  com- 
modious facilities  for  getting  from  one  part  of  the  country  to 
another.  The  emigrants  from  Rutland,  after  bidding  adieu  to 
their  old  homes,  former  pleasant  associations,  and  kind  friends, 
started  on  their  long  pilgrimage  to  a  then  uncultivated  and 
vast  wilderness,  some  on  foot,  some  in  wagons,  and  the  more 
feeble  and  delicate  on  horseback,  weeks  and  even  months,  it  is 
13 


98  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

said,  being  occupied  in  tlie  journey.  Gen.  Putnam's  family 
consisted  of  himself  and  wife  Persis,  their  children  Elisabeth 
Persis,  Abigail,  Susanna,  Wm.  Rufus,  Edwin,  Kate,  and  Patty, 
with  several  domestics.  Among  those  who  went  with  them, 
was  ensign  Christopher  Burlingame,  (great  grandfather  of  the 
late  Hon.  Anson  Burlingame,)  then  a  hatter  in  Rutland,  who 
married  the  General's  daughter  Susanna.  Before  Gen.  Putnam 
would  give  his  consent  to  the  union,  the  suitor  for  his  daugh- 
ter's hand  was  required  to  pledge  himself  that  he  would  go 
with  him  to  Ohio.  They  were  accordingly  married  Dec.  13, 
1787,  and  had  several  children  in  Ohio. 

Another  of  the  emigrants  from  Rutland,  William,  son  of  Lt. 
Wm.  Browning,  married  the  General's  daughter  Abigail. 
Among  others  who  emigrated  from  Rutland  with  their  families 
to  join  Gen.  Putnam,  in  Marietta,  at  this  time,  were  Col.  Silas 
Bent,  Major  Nathan  Goodall,  Capt.  Benjamin  Miles  Jr.  (who 
married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster,)  and  Israel 
Stone.  The  last  named,  who  married  Lydia  Barret,  emigrated 
with  ten  children,  among  whom  was  the  late  Col.  Augustus 
Stone  of  Harmer,  Ohio,  who  died  some  icw  years  since  at  the 
advanced  age  of  86.  The  emigrants  from  Rutland  took  with 
them  some  yellow  cattle,  still  known  in  Marrietta  under  the 
name  of  the  "  Rutland  breed." 

Gen.  Rufus  Putnam's  father,  Elisha,  who  emigrated  from  Sa- 
lem to  Sutton  with  him,  had  six  brothers  and  two  sisters,  as 
follows:  1st,  Edward,  born  April  29,  1682;  2d,  Holyoke, 
born  Sept.  28,  1683  ;  3d,  Elisha,  (father  of  Gen.  Rufus,)  born 
Nov.  3, 1685  ;  4th,  Joseph,  born  Nov.  1, 1687  ;  5th,  Mary,  born 
Aug.  14, 1689  ;  6th,  Prudence,  born  Jan.  25, 1692  ;  7th,  Nehe- 
miah,  born  Dec.  20,1693;  8th,  Ezra,  born  April  29,  1696; 
9th,  Isaac,  born  Mar.  14,  1698.  Of  these  children  of  Dea. 
Edward  Putnam,  and  grandchildren  of  the  first  Thomas,  one 
or  more  of  whom  emigrated  with  their  brother  Elisha  to  Sut- 
ton, the  oldest,  Edward,  Jr.,  born  in  Salem  in  1682,  was  great 
grandfather  of  the  present  Sibley,  Jason,  Salmon,  Philander, 
Darius,  Alexander,  and  Chas.  V.  Putnam  of  ^Vorcester,  and  an- 
cestor of  numerous,  others  living  here.  This  second  Edward 
Putnam,  (oldest   son   of  Dea.  Edward,)  had  seven  sons:  John, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  99 

Stcplicii,  Arclielaus,  David,  Caleb,  Peter,  and  Asa.  Of  these 
Jolm  was  grandrather  of  Alexander  and  Charles  V.;  Archelaus 
was  grandfather  of  Jason,  Sibley  and  Darius,  and  David  was 
grandfather  of  Salmon  and  Philander.  John  had  four  sons  : 
John,  Jr.,  Stephen,  Charles  and  Joseph,  the  latter  father  of  Al- 
exander and  Chas  V.  Archelaus  had  three  sons  :  Aaron,  born 
July  13, 1762,  father  of  Jason  and  Sibley;  Archelaus,  Jr.,  born 
A.ug.17,  1768  ;  Andrew,  born  Sept.  26,  1773,  father  of  Darius. 
David's  son,  Cyrus  Putnam,  had  five  sons :  David,  Horace, 
Philander,  Salmon  and  Leander.  Of  these,  Capt.  Salmon  Put- 
nam has  four  children  resident  here  :  Otis  E.  Putnam,  of  the 
firm  of  Barnard,  Sumner  k  Co.;  Samuel  H.  Putnam,  of  the 
firm  of  Putnam  &  Davis  ;  Mary  L.  Putnam  ;  and  Persis  Jane 
who  married  the  late  F.  L.  R.  Coes.  The  sons  of  Philander 
Putnam,  all  resident  here,  are  :  W.  T.,  Marcus  M.,  Edward  F., 
and  George  A.  Putnam. 

Gqw.  Rufus  Putnam's  cousin,  Isaac  Putnam,  who  settled  in 
that  part  of  Sutton  afterwards  forming  a  part  of  Auburn,  had 
a  son,  Isaac  Putnam,  Jr.,  born  in  1762,  who  came  from  Auburn 
to  Worcester  and  married  Jan.  18, 1784,  Martha  Adams,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Abigail  Adams,  and  granddaughter  of  Aa- 
I'on  Adams,  who  was  on  the  first  board  of  town  officers  in  Wor- 
cester in  1722.  Isaac,  Jr.,  and  Martha  (Adams)  Putnam,  who 
resided  on  the  corner  of  Belmont  and  Adams  streets,  (on  the 
estate  now  owned  and  occupied  by  their  great-grandsons,  Sam- 
uel and  Henry  Putnam,)  had  ten  children,  as  follows  :  1st,  Sal- 
ly (Baird,)  born  in  1785,  and  died  in  1850  ;  2d,  Ebenezer,  bom 
in  1787,  died  in  1848  ;  3d,  Joel,  born  in  1789,  died  in  1858  ; 
4th,  William,  born  in  1790,  and  died  in  1796  ;  5th,  Charles, 
born  in  1792,  died  in  1840  ;  6th,  Samuel,  (of  the  firm  of  Put- 
nam &  Converse,  quarriers  on  Millstone  Hill,)  born  in  1794, 
died  Sept.  26,  1861  ;  7th,  Aaron,  born  in  1797,  died  in  1800  ; 
8th,  William,  born  in  1799,  died  in  1822  ;  9th,  Martha,  born  in 
1801,  died  in  1865;  Mary  (Biackman),  born  in  1805,  died 
in    1860. 

Samuel  Putnam,  who  died  in  1861,  married  in  1820,  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  Amos  Flagg,  and  they  had  three  sons, 
the  present  William,  Samuel,  and  Henry  Putnam,  and  four 
dau<»htei-s. 


100  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

Joel  Putnam,  who  died  in  1858,  married  first,  Thankful  N. 
Salter  of  Slircwsbury,  and  second,  Ruth  Parmenter  of  Win- 
chendon.  Of  their  children,  Isaac  died  in  1858  aged  43,  and 
one  daughter  married  S.  F.  Goss. 

Jonathan  R.  Putnam  who  came  to  Worcester  from  New 
England  Village,  Grafton,  nearly  fifty  years  ago,  and  married 
in  1834  a  sister  of  the  late  Ebenczer  H.  and  George  Bowen,  is 
son  of  John  Putnam,  and  grandson  of  Zadock  Putnam,  who 
emigrated  from  Salem  to  Grafton  one  hundred  years  ago  or 
more. 

Charles  L.  Putnam,  President  of  the  Five  Cents  Savinfrs 
Bank,  who  came  to  Worcester  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  and  his 
brother  Rev.  John  J.  Putnam,  are  natives  of  Chesterfield,  N. 
H.,  their  father,  John  Putnam,  being  son  of  Gen.  Rufus  Put- 
nam's brother  Stephen,  consequently  Charles  L.  and  John  J. 
bear  the  relationship  of  grand-nephews  to  the  general.  Chas. 
L.  Putnam's  only  daugliter  is  wife  of  Col.  John  D.  Washburn. 

Rev.  Dr.  Alfred  Porter  Putnam  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  his 
brother  Judge  Arthur  Alwyn  Putnam  of  Blackstone,  in  this 
county,  both  natives  of  Salem,  are  sons  of  Elias  Putnam, 
grandsons  of  Israel  (not  the  general.)  and  great  grandsons  of 
Edmund  Putnam,  one  of  the  pioneer  Universalists  in  this  coun- 
try, who  held  the  first  Universalist  meeting  in  the  old  brick 
School  house  in  Putnamville,  Salem,  more  than  a  century  ago. 

John  Putnam,  born  in  1765,  son  of  John  and  ^lartha  Put- 
nam of  Brooklyn,  Ct.,  and  a  near  relative  of  Gen.  Israel,  mar- 
ried in  1791  Philura  Curtis,  and  emigrated  from  Brooklyn  to 
Hinsdale,  Mass.,  wdiere  John  and  Philura  (Curtis)  Putnam  had 
Henry,  Martha,  Mary,  and  Sophia  Putnam.  Of  these,  Sophia 
Putnam,  born  Oct.  23,  1797,  married  Jan.  27,  1820,  Daniel 
Nichols,  they  being  parents  of  Henry  Putnam  Nichols  of  Wor- 
cester, for  the  last  thirty-five  years  agent  of  the  Western  and 
Boston  and  Albany  Railroad.  Sophia's  oldest  sister,  Martha, 
married  in  1810  George  W.  McElwain,  they  being  parents  of 
Mrs.  Charles  Wright  of  Hinsdale.  Mary  Putnam  married  in 
1815,  Dr.  John  Kittridge,  and  Henry  married  in  1825,  Martha 
Boardman. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester  301 

The  Upham  Family. 
The  Upbams  in    this    coantry    are    descendants  of  Deacon 
Jolni  Upham,  who  came  from  England  with  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
Sept.  2,  1635,  and  settled  first  at  Weymouth.     They  brought 
with  them  four  children,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Nathaniel,  and  Han- 
nah, born  between  1628  and  1635,  their  three  other  children, 
Phinehas,  John,  and  Priscilla,  being  born  after  their  arrival, 
between    1635    and    1642.     The    family    removed   to  Maiden 
about  16o0,  where  the  mother  died  in   1670,  and  the  father 
married  in  1671  Catherine,  w4dow  of  Angel  Holland  of  Boston. 
John  Upham,  senior,  was  Deacon  of  the  church  in  Maiden  24 
years,  and  died  there  Feb.  25,  1682,  aged  84,     His  son  Phine- 
has was  the  Lieut.  Upham,  mentioned  on  page  13,  as  one  of  the 
earliest   settlers   of     Worcester  in   1675,    who    was   mortally 
wounded  in  the  fight  with  the  Indians  in   December  of  that 
year.     Lt.  Phinehas  Upham,  born  in  1635,  married  April  14, 
1658,  Ruth  Wood,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Ruth    Wood  of 
Charlestown,  and  settled  in  Maiden.*     In  April,  1675,  he  emi- 
igrated  with  his  w^ife  and  seven  children,  Phinehas,  Nathaniel, 
Ruth,  John,  Elizabeth,  Richard,   and  Thomas,  born   between 
1658  and  1775,  to  Worcester,  where  he  had  a  grant  of  land, 
and  settled  thereon.     He  was  Lieutenant  of  the  company  head- 
ed by  Capt.  Isaac  Johnson,  from  Roxbury,  in  the  memorable 
battle  of  Dec.  19,  1675,  with  the  Indians  at  Narraganset  fort, 
where   so  many  of  our  brave   officers  and  men  were  killed. 
This  happened  after  the  destruction  of  the  first  settlements  at 
Mendon,  Brookfield,  and  Worcester.     The  Indians  had  collect- 
ed  to   the  number  of  three  thousand  in  their  chief  fort  on  a 
rising  ground  in  an  immense  swamp,  a  short  distance  south- 
west of  the  village  of  Kingston,  R.  I.     They  were  attacked  by 
eighteen  hundred  troops  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut 
with  one  hundred  and  sixty  friendly  Indians.     The  fort  was  a 
work  of  great  strength,  composed  of  palisades,  and  surround- 
ed by  a  hedge  sixteen  feet  thick,  but  such  was  the  vigor  of  the 
attacking  party  in  their  determination  to  punish  the  perfidious 
savages  for  their  treachery  in  the  destruction  of  so  many  of 
the  English  settlements  in  violation  of  their  treaty,  that  the 
Indian  stronghold  was  soon  reduced,  though  at  a  terrible  sacri- 

*Malden  formerly  bjlonged  to  Charlestown,  being  incorporated  therefiom  in  1G49. 


102  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

lice.  An  entrance  being  forced,  onr  men  sprang  instantly  into 
the  fort,  and  after  a  desperate  conflict,  achieved  a  complete  vic- 
tory. Five  Imndred  wigwarms  containing  provisions  for  the 
Avinter  were  set  on  fire,  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  children 
of  the  savage  foe  perished  in  the  flames,  and  a  thousand  of 
their  warriors  were  slain  or  fatally  wounded,  besides  many  hun- 
dred taken  prisoners,  including  the  Xarraganset  chief.  Canon- 
cliet,  who  was  afterwards  slain,  but  King  Philip  escaped.  Six 
brave  captains  and  eighty  others  of  the  English  troops  fell  in 
the  conflict,  including  Captains  Isaac  Johnson  and  Nathaniel 
Davenport  from  Roxbury,  and  Lieut.  Phineas  Upham  of  Wor- 
cester, besides  one  hundred  and  fifty  wounded  who  recovered. 
Capt.  Johnson  was  killed  in  the  early  part  of  the  engagement, 
his  company  being  among  the  first  to  enter  the  fort,  and  the 
commaiid  of  this  company  then  devolved  on  Lieut.  Upham,  who 
subsequently  received  a  mortal  wound,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  died  the  following  October  in  Boston,  at  the  age  of 
41.  His  grave  stone  is  in  Maiden.  His  widow,  Ruth,  for 
whom  and  for  her  seven  children  the  General  Court  made  am- 
ple provision,  died  in  Maiden,  Jan.  18,  1G9T,  aged  60.  The 
order  of  the  General  Court,  Oct.  12,  1676,  -  in  answer  to  the 
petition  of  Ruth  Upham,  widow  and  relict  of  the  late  Lieut. 
Phinehas  Upham,"  was  "  that  the  bills  of  charges  to  chirur- 
geons,  doctors,  and  diet,  mentioned  in  said  petition,  be  paid  by 
tlie  treasurer  of  the  country,  and  in  consideration  of  the  long 
and  good  service  her  husband  did  for  the  country,  and  the  great 
loss  the  widow  sustains  by  his  death,  being  left  with  seven  small 
children  and  not  able  to  carry  on  their  affairs  for  the  support 
of  herself  and  family,  do  further  order  the  treasurer  of  the 
country  to  pay  unto  the  said  widow  ten  pounds  in  or  as  money." 
Lieut.  L'pham's  eldest  son,  Phinehas  Upham,  Jr.,  born  May 
22,  1659,  married  Mary  Mellen,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dexter)  Mellen  of  Charlestown,  and  they  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  Phinehas,  3d,  James,  Mary,  Ebenezer,  Jonathan,  Wil- 
liam, and  Elizabeth.  This  Phinehas  Upham,  3d,  married  Tam- 
sin  Hill,  and  they  were  parents  of  Dr.  Jabez  Upham  of  Brook- 
field,  father  of  the  distinguished  tory  and  refugee,  Col.  Joshua 
L^pliam,  who  led  the  British  troops  into  Xew  LomJon,  Ct.,Sept. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  103 

6,  1781,  when  that  town  was  burnt  by  the  traitor  commander, 
Gen.  Benedict  Arnold.  This  Col.  Joshua  Upham,  who  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  in  1763,  w^as  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Worcester 
in  1765,  and  was  a  rising  lawyer  at  Brookfield  when  the  Revo- 
lution came  on.  He  married,  Oct  27,  1768,  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  John  Murray  of  Rutland,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
dren, some  of  whom  shared  in  the  father's  banishment  and 
exile.  Col.  Upham  left  the  country  at  the  beginning  of  hostil- 
ities, accepted  of  the  position  of  colonel  in  the  British  Dra- 
goons, and  became  in  1781  Inspector  General  of  Refugees  at 
Lloyd's  Neck,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  while  there  piloted  Ar- 
nold's troops  into  New  London.  He  settled  in  New  Brunswick 
after  the  war,  practised  law  at  St.  John's,  and  in  1784  was  ap- 
pointed Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  Province.  Judge 
Upham  died  in  London  in  1808,  aged  67,  while  on  a  visit  to 
the  mother  country,  on  business  connected  with  the  Courts. 
By  his  second  wife,  Mary  Chandler,  Judge  Upham  had  five 
children,  bcrn  in  St.  John's,  their  only  son  being  the  late  Hon. 
Charles  Wentworth  Upham  of  Salem,  formerly  member  of  Con- 
gress, President  of  the  Senate,  and  holding  other  high  official 
positions  in  this  State. 

The  distinguished  tory  who  led  the  troops  of  the  traitor  Ar- 
nold into  New  London  in  1781,  was  thus  great-great-grandson 
of  the  brave  and  gallant  Lieut.  Phinehas  Upham  of  Worcester, 
who  in  1675  laid  down  his  life  for  his  country  in  the  battle  with 
King  Philip's  savages  ;  but  the  son  of  the  tory  sire  was  a  true 
representative,  in  the  councils  of  the  nation  and  of  the  State, 
of  the  patriotic  deeds  of  his  great-great-great-grandfather  two 
centuries  ago. 

Lieut.  Pliinehas  Upham's  son  Thomas,  who  settled  in  Read- 
ing, had  a  son,  Dea.  Thomas  Upham,  miller,  who  settled  in 
Weston,  shouldered  his  musket  at  Lexington  and  Concord  in 
1875,  and  was  father  of  Nathan,  Amos,  Isaac,  Thomas,  and 
Ephraim  Upham.  This  Nathan  Upham  may  be  the  Nathan 
Upham  of  Brookfield,  who  was  father  of  Pliny  Upham  and 
grandfather  of  Joel  W.  Upham,  who  came  from  Brookfield  to 
Worcester  about  forty  years  ago. 


104  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

Samuel  Upham  of  Maiden  had  two  sons,  Ebcnezer  and  Sam- 
uel, Jr.,  who  emigrated  with  others  from  Maiden  to  Leicester 
about  1750.  Ebenezer  was  a  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Thomas  New- 
hall's  company  which  marched  from  Leicester  to  Cambridge, 
April  19,  1775,  and  was  three  years  in  the  revolutionary  ser- 
vice. Samuel,  Jr.,  was  father  of  Capt.  Samuel  Upham,  who 
married  in  1791,  Patty,  daughter  of  Jonas  Livermore  of  Leices- 
ter, and  in  1800  removed  to  Montpelier,  Yt.,  where  he  died  in 
1848,  aged  86  ;  he  was  grandfather  of  Hon.  William  Upham,  a 
distinguished  lawyer,  and  Senator  in  Congress  from  Vermont, 
from  1843  till  his  death  in  1853,  aged  62.  These  as  well  as 
Hon.  Jabez  Upham,  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts 
from  1807  to  1811  ;  Hon.  George  B.  Upham,  member  of  Con- 
gress from  N.H.  from  1801  to  1803  ;  Hon.  Nathaniel  G.  Upham, 
Congressman  from  the  Granite  State  from  1817  to  1823;  Prof. 
Thomas  C.  Upham  of  Bowdoin  College,  Me.;  Rev.  and  Col. 
Timothy  Upham  ;  and  other  distinguished  representatives  of 
the  family,  are  unquestionably  descendants  of  Lieut.  Phinehas 
of  Worcester,  through  one  or  another  of  his  sons  Phinehas, 
John,  Nathaniel,  or  Thomas,  as  Lt.  Phinehas'  brother  Nathaniel 
died  a  few  days  after  his  marriage  in  March,  1662,  and  there 
appears  to  be  no  account  of  his  other  brother  John's  family. 
Their  sister  Mary  married  John  AVhittemore,  it  may  be  ances- 
tor of  the  John  W^hittemore  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Leicester,  and  progenitor  of  the  Whittemores  in  this  vi- 
cinity. Lieut.  Phinehas  Upham's  son  John  married  Abigail, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Havward  of  Maiden. 

Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Upham,  of  Springfield,  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  eloquent  preachers  in  the  New  England  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  is  a  descendant  of  tlie  sixtii 
generation  in  remove  from  Lieut.  Phinehas,  Dr.  Upham's  fa- 
ther Frederick  being  a  native  of  Dorchester,  and  his  grand- 
father Samuel  and  great-grandfather  Amos,  natives  of  Maiden. 

John  Upham,  (father  of  Lieut.  Phinehas,)  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  Worcester  (or  Qiiinsigamond  as  it  was 
then  called,)  who  met  at  Cambridge  March  3,  1674,  with  Goo- 
kin,  Henchman,  Michael  Flagg,  Richard  Dana,  Philip  Atwood, 
Thomas  Brown,  William  Taylor,  Bonjamin   Webb,  and  others. 


Heminiscences  of    Worcester,  105 

contemplating'  settlement  here,  and  agreed  to  build  "  according 
to  the  model  proposed  by  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman."  This  was 
before  any  one  had  settled  upon  his  claim  except  Ephraim  Cur- 
tis, who  came  the  fall  before. 

Lieut.  Phinehas  Upham's  grant,  comprising  more  than  the 
fifty  acres  originally  granted  to  each  settler  to  build  upon,  was 
confirmed  to  him  by  the  Committee  "  in  consideration  of  the 
labor,  travel,  and  activity  of  said  Upham  from  time  to  time  in 
advancing  and  encouraging  the  settlement  of  said  planta- 
tion." It  was  located  "  in  the  west  squadron  or  division  on  the 
south  side  of  the  country  road,"  this  road  bounding  it  on  the 
N.  N.  W.,  and  Mill  Brook  bounding  it  on  the  S.  S.  E.,  "  being 
in  breadth  upon  the  road  to  Connecticut  about  110  pole,  in 
depth  to  Mill  Brook  90  pole,  the  side  lines  running  S.  S.  E.  and 
N.  N.  W."  Precisely  where  this  location  was,  is  a  matter  of 
difficult  conjecture. 

Hon.  William  Upham  of  Spencer,  formerly  in  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature,  who  married,  in  1853,  Lucretia  H.,  daughter 
of  William  Pope  of  Spencer,  is  a  native  of  Sturbridge,  son  of 
William  Upham,  grandson  of  Joshua  Upham,  Jr.,  and  great- 
grandson  of  Col.   Joshua  Upham,  formerly  of  Brookfield. 


14 


CHAPTER     VII. 


Prominent  families— the  Flagg  family— Grout  family— and  Perry  family. 


The  Flagg  Family, 

Of  whom  mention  has  already  been  made,  are  descendants  of 
Thomas  Flagg  from  England,  a  settler  in  Watertown  as  early 
as  1G63,  and  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  country. 
This  Thomas  Flagg  (or  Flag  as  originally  spelled,)  was  a  prom- 
inent man  of  his  time  in  Watertown,  and  selectman  from  1671 
to  1678.  He  died  Feb.  6,  1698,  and  his  wife  Mary  died  Dec. 
30, 1702,  aged  82.  Their  children  were  :  1st,  John,  born  June 
14,  1643,  died  Feb.  6,  1697  ;  2d,  Bartholomew,  born  Feb.  23, 
1645  ;  3d,  Thomas,  born  April  28,  1646  ;  4th,  Gershom,  un- 
certain ;  5th,  Michael,  born  March  23, 1651,  died  Oct.  16, 1711, 
one  of  the  earliest  proprietors  of  Worcester  in  the  first  attempt 
at  settlement,  and  married  June  3,  1674,  Mary  Bigelow  ;  6th, 
Eleazer,  born  May  14,  1653  ;  7th,  Elizabeth,  born  March  22, 
1655,  married  Oct.  20,  1676,  Joshua  Bigelow,  a  settler  in  Wor- 
cester and  afterwards  in  Westminster ;  8th,  Mary,  born  June 
14,  1657,  married  June  3,  1674,  Samuel  Bigelow,  a  brother  of 
Joshua  and  Mary  Bigelow,  above  mentioned,  and  also  of  the 
first  Daniel  Bigelow  of  Worcester  ;  9th,  Rebecca,  born  Sept.  5, 
1660,  married  Nov.  19,-  1679,  Dea.  Stephen  Cook  ;  10th,  Ben- 
jamin, (the  first  Benjamin  Flagg  of  Worcester,)  born  June  25, 
1662,  married  Sept.  26, 1690,  Experience,  daughter  of  Richard 
Child  of  Watertown,  and  was  ancestor  of  five  generations  of 
Benjamin  Flaggs  prominent  inour  town  history,  being  great- 
great-grandfather  of  the  present  Benjamin  Flagg  ;  11th,  Allen 
Flagg,  born  May  16,  1665,  died  in  1711. 

This  first  Benjamin  Flagg,  one  of  tlie  earliest  permanent  set- 
tlers here,  who  died  May  3,  1741,  aged  79,  had  nine  children, 
all  born  in  Watertown:  1st,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  born  August  25, 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  107 

1691,  married,  January  25,  1716,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel Fiske  of  Watertown,  and  was  captain,  school-master  and 
sheriff,  as  well  as  selectman  ;  2d,  Experience,  born  in  1693, 
married,  in  1713,  Caleb  Ball  of  Concord ;  3d,  Abigail,  born 
April  16,  1694,  married  Judge  William  Jennison  of  Worcester  ; 
4th,  Bartholmew,  a  sea  captain,  born  in  1699,  died  in  Bristol  in 
1743;  5th,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1700,  married  Peter  King,  alias 
Rice  ;  6th,  Gershom,  born,  1702  ;  7th,  Mary,  1704  ;  8th,  Ebene- 
zer,  1706 ;  9th,  Richard,  born  May  20,  1708,  lieutenant,  set- 
tled in  Holden,  where  he  died  November  12,  1799,  aged  92, 
and  his  widow  Grace  died  there,  December  4,  1808,  aged  100. 
Richard  and  Grace's  oldest  son,  Colonel  Samuel  Flao-jr,  who 
was  chairman  of  the  board  of  Selectmen  in  Worcester  for  ei<rb- 
teen  years  from  1790to  1808,  and  distinguished  for  his  extensive 
business  euterprises,  died  here,  September  24,  1819,  aged  83, 
and  his  wife,  Dolly,  died  March  11,  1824,  aged  85.  He  owned 
an  extensive  tract  of  240  acres  of  land  on  both  sides  of  Green 
street,  including  the  old  "Red  Mills"  and  *'Fox  Mills"  water 
privileges,  and  last  resided  for  many  years,  in  the  house,  op- 
posite the  "Red  Mills,"  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Col. 
Artemas  Ward,  2d. 

Capt,  Benjamin  Flagg,  (the  second  one  of  the  name,)  who 
died  in  1751,  aged  60,  was  the  second  sheriff  of  the  county 
holding  this  office  at  his  decease.  His  wife  died  November  30, 
1760,  aged  77.  They  had  six  children :  1st,  Elizabeth,  born 
May  24,  1717,  married  Absalom,  son  of  Jonas  Rice,  the  first 
permanent  settler  in  Worcester ;  2d,  Abigail,  married  Samuel 
Hubbard;  3d,  Benjamin,  born  August  23,  1723,  commanded 
the  company  of  militia,  who  marched  with  Col.  Timothy  Bige- 
low's.  company  of  minute  men  for  Lexington,  on  the  alarm, 
April  19,  1775,  afterwards  Colonel  in  the  revolutionary  service, 
filled  important  town  offices,  and  died  in  Worcester,  October 
8,  1818,  aged  95,  leaving  four  children,  42  grand  children,  and 
83  great  grand  children. 

This  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg  was  thus  own  cousin  of  Col.  Sam- 
uel Flagg.  The  latter  had  a  brother  Benjamin,  who  lived  in 
Holden,  and  the  Flaggs  there  belong  to  this  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily, the  late  Dea.  Silas  and  George  Flagg,  being  sons  of  this 
Benjamin,  and  the  present  Silas  and  Charles  his  grandsons. 


108  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Col.  Benjamin  Flagg,  whose  wife  was  Abigail,  daughter  of 
John  Chadwick,  had  sons,  Benjamin,  Aaron  and  Phinehas,  and 
the  latter  was  father  of  John  Flagg,  born  June  11,  1778 ;  Abel 
Fl'agg,  born  October  31,  1781;  and  of  the  present  Benjamin 
Flagg,  born  June  12,  1790,  the  oldest  male  resident,  but  two,  in 
Worcester,  possessing  remarkable  vigor  for  a  man  of  his  years. 

The  late  Samuel  Flagg,  machinist,  of  Worcester,  born  in 
Holden  in  1784,  who  removed  to  West  Boylston  in  1808,  and 
from  West  Boylston  to  Worcester  in  1840,  where  he  started  an 
extensive  machinist  establishment,  was  son  of  Jonathan  Flagg, 
who  lived  in  the  nortliwest  part  of  Holden. 

The  present  Dr.  Samuel  Flagg  of  Worcester  is  the  only  son 
of  Samuel  Flagg,  formerly  a  lawyer  here,  who  was  the  only  son 
of  Col.  Samuel  Flagg.  Charles  L.  Putnam's  wife  was  the  doc- 
tor's sister. 

The  late  Enoch  and  Elisha  Flagg,  bakers,  who  had  an  ex- 
tensive bakery  establishment  in  Worcester  three  quarters  of  a 
century  ago  on  the  site  of  tlie  present  Flagg's  Block,  and  their 
brothers,  Marshall  and  Nalmm  Flagg,  were  sons  of  Isaac  Flagg 
of  Waltham,  who  was  great-grandson  of  the  original  Thomas 
Flagg  of  Watertown. 

The  Grout  Family. 

Jonathan  Grout,  great-grandfather  of  the  present  Jonathan 
Grout  of  Worcester,  came  here  from  Sudbury  in  1744,  and  set- 
tled upon  one  hundred  acres  of  land  purchased  of  James  Hol- 
den on  what  is  now  Vernon  street,  half  a  mile  north  of  Quinsig 
amend  Village,  the  same  estate  having  since  been  in  possession 
of  the  family  for  five  generations.  This  Jonathan,  born  in  Sud- 
bury in  1702,  who  died  in  Worcester  in  1748,  was  cousin  of 
Hon.  Jonathan  Grout  of  Petersham,  a  distinguished  lawyer,  and 
officer  in  the  French  and  Revolutionary  w^ars,  born  in  Lunen- 
burg in  1737,  who  was  the  first  representative  in  Cono;ress  from 
the  northern  district  of  Worcester  County,  from  1789  to  1791, 
and  died  in  1807.  These  two  cousins  w^ere  grandsons  of  Capt. 
John  Grout,  (ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  country,) 
who  emigrated  from  England  in  1740,  and  settled  in  Sudbury, 
having  three  sons,— John,  who  settled  in  Lunenburg,  Jonathan 
in  Sudbuiy,  and  Joseph  hi  Watertown. 


Reminisceiices  of    Worcester.  ]09 

The  first  Jonathan  Grout  of  Worcester  by  his  wife  Hannah 
liad  three  children,  of  whom  the  only  son,  Jonathan,  was  born 
June  2,  1744,  inherited  the  paternal  estate,  and  married  Anna 
Harrington,  sister  of  Nathaniel  Harrington,  then  just  come  to 
Worcester,  the  latter  being  grandfather  of  the  present  Francis 
Harrington.  This  second  Jonathan  Grout,  who  died  here  in 
1828,  aged  84,  had  sons,  Jonathan  and  Francis.  The  former, 
(who  was  father  of  the  present  Jonathan  Grout,)  was  a  long 
time  school-teacher,  familiarly  known  as  "Master  Grout,"  car- 
ried on  business  as  a  book-binder  and  stationer  in  Millbury, 
had  an  excellent  taste  for  mathematics,  and  compiled  and  pub- 
lished a  school  arithmetic  and  several  devotional  books,  much 
used.  His  brother  Francis  succeeded  to  the  paternal  home- 
stead, where  the  latter's  son,  Jonathan  D.,  now  resides.  "Mas- 
ter Grout's"  son  Jonathan  is  the  well  known  wealthy  real 
estate  owner  and  former  bookseller  and  publisher  of  Worces- 
ter, now  retired  from  active  business,  whose  son,  the  brave  and 
youthful  Lieut.  John  William  Grout,  was  a  lamented  victim  of 
the  late  war,  and  whose  daughter  Ellen  is  wife  of  Rev.  Dr. 
George  H.  Gould  of  the  Piedmont  Church,  Worcester. 

The  Ferry  Family. 

Jolm  Ferry,  great-great-grandfather  of  the  present  Capt. 
Samuel  Perry  of  Worcester,  emigrated  from  London,  England, 
about  1666,  and  settled  in  Watertown,  he  being  then  53.  He 
is  supposed  to  be  a  brother  of  WilHam,  a  tailor,  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1606,  who  was  a  proprietor  of  Watertown  in  1642. 
John  Perry  had  a  son,  John,  Jr.,  who  married,  in  1667,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  John  Clary  of  Cambridge,  and  they  settled  in  Wa- 
tertown, and  had  six  children:  1st,  John,  3d,  born  March  3, 
1670  ;  2d,  Johanna,  born  Nov.  8,  1672  ;  3d,  Sarah,  born  July 
11,  1675;  4th,  born  Elizabeth,  Nov.  2,  1681;  5th,  Josiah, 
(great-grandfather  of  the  present  Samuel,)  born  Nov.  28, 1684  ; 
6th,  Joseph,  born  January  17,  1690. 

The  above  named  Josiah  Perry  married,  Jan.  12,  1708, 
Jkrthia,  daughter  of  John  Cutler,  and  they  had  ten  children, 
all  born  in  Watertown:  1st,  Jonathan,  Jan.  7,  1710;  2d, 
Lydia,  born  Dec.  8,  1711,  married  John  Ball  ;  3d,  Josiah,  Jr., 


110  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

born  Feb.  8,  1714  ;  4th,  Ephraim,  Nov.  1,  1715  ;  otb,  Nathan, 
(grandfather  of  the  present  Samuel,)  born  May  2,  1718  ;  6th, 
Berthia,  Jan.  31,  1719  ;  7th,  Mary,  Feb.  13, 1721  ;  8th,  Isaiah, 
Feb.  0,  1723;  9th,  Dorcas,  Dec.  2,  1727  ;  10th,  Sarah,  1728. 

Of  the  above,  Josiali,  Jr.,  married,  March  10, 1736,  EHzabeth 
Harrington,  and  they  had  Joshua,  born  Oct.  25,  1741  ;  Josi  ih, 
3d,  born  Sept.  1,  1743  ;  and  Abel,  born  Sept.  11,  1745.  Eliza- 
beth, died  Sept.  11,  1748,  and  Josiah,  Jr.,  married,  Oct.  17, 
1749,  Sarah  Stowell,  sister  of  Cornelius  Stowell. 

Nathan  Ferry,  weaver,  afterwards  deacon,  (father  of  Dea. 
Moses  Ferry,)  married  in  Watertown,  May  1,  174'»,  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Nathan  Fiske,  the  latter  being  grandfatlicr  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Fiske  of  Brookfield.  Nathan  came  to  War- 
cester  with  his  father  Josiah  in  April,  1751,  and  purchased  of 
Eli) all  Hedge  the  estate  on  Vernon  street,  now  owned  and  oc 
cupied  by  his  grandson,  Dea.  Samuel  Ferry.  Dea.  Nathan  and 
Hannah  (Fiske)  Ferry  had  eight  children,  the  first  three  of 
whom  were  born  in  Watertown  before  the  parents  came  here  : 
1st,  Hannah,  born  in  1747,  died  in  1749  ;  2d,  Hannah,  born  in 
1749  ;  3d,  Nathan,  Jr.,  born  March  30,  1751  ;  4th,  Sarah,  born' 
Nov.  29,  1752  ;  5th,  Josiah,  born  March  9,  1755  ;  6th,  Moses, 
born  April  23,  1757,  died  in  1759  ;  7th,  Mary,  born  March  1, 
1759  ;  8th,  Moses,  born  Feb.  16,  1762,  afterwards  deacon,  and 
lather  of  Dea.  Samuel  Ferry. 

Dea.  Moses  Ferry,  who  succeeded  to  the  possession  of  the 
paternal  homestead,  married,  Dec.  28,  1784,  Mercy  Clark,  wlio 
died  Oct.  15,  1785,  and  he  married,  April  26,  1791,  Hannah 
Hall. 

Nathan  Ferry  was  deacon  of  the  Old  South  Church  for  twen- 
ty-three years,  from  1783  until  his  death,  Feb.  14,  1806,  aged 
88  ;  his  son  Moses  succeeded  him  as  deacon  of  the  same  church 
for  thirty  years,  and  of  the  Union  Church  for  six  years,  until 
his  death,  March  12,  1842,  aged  80  ;  and  the  latter's  son,  the 
present  Samuel  Ferry,  succeeded  his  father  as  deacon  for  thir- 
ty-five years,  until  the  recent  changes  in  those  offices.  This 
constitutes  the  remarkable  record  of  95  years  of  successive  ser- 
vice as  deacons  by  father,  son  and  grandson,  and  the  hundred 
years  undoubtedly  would  be  completed,  had   not  there  been  a 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  Ill 

cliaiige  introduced  in  some  of  the  churclies,  reducing  the  term 
of  service  of  sucli  officers. 

Dea.  Nathan  Perry  was  many  years  County  Treasurer,  suc- 
ceeding John  Chandler,  and  preccdiiig  Samuel  Allen,  Senior, 
in  1792.  He  was  also  town  treasurer  and  selectman  some  ten 
years,  previous  to  1790. 

Of  the  five  sons  of  Dea.  Moses  and  Hannah  (Hall)  Perry,  three 
were  clergymen,  viz..  Revs.  Baxter,  David,  and  Clark,  the 
only  surviving  brother  being  Dea.  Samuel,  born  in  1796, 
now  vigorous  and  active  in  his  81st  year,  who  married  Han- 
nah, sister  of  Francis  Harrington,  their  ten  children  be- 
ing :  1st,  Hannah  H.,  married  Elisha  Stone  of  Auburn  ;  2d, 
Mary  S.  ;  3d;  Joseph  S.,  married  Lucy  Ann  Day ;  4th,  Julia 
M.,  married  Wm.  J.  Baker  ;  5th,  Nathan  F.,  married  a  daughter 
of  Jasper  Tucker;  6th,  Lydia,  married  John  W.  Jordan  ;  7th, 
Harriet  N.,  married  George  L.  Robbins  ;  8th,  David  Brainard, 
Principal  of  an  Academy  in  Nebraska;  9th,  Samuel  Payson, 
married  a  daughter  of  Sylvanus  Harrington,  and  resides  on 
Pakachoag  Hill ;  10th,  Moses,  married  a  sister  of  George  L. 
Robbins. 


-.— »*,"i""'' '■"•" ""'iJ» 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOP.Y. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


The   First   Churcb. 


The  founders  of  Worcester  made  early  provision  for  religious 
instruction  and  the  education  of  youth,  in  accordance  with  the 
requirements  of  the  law,  although  thev  were  jealous  of  any  de- 
parture from  their  own  established  Puritanic  belief  and  method 
of  worshipping  God.     Soon  after   the  beginning  of  the  third  or 
permanent  settlement,  a  church  was  organized  in  1716,  and  a 
house  of  worship,  rudely  constructed  of  logs,  was  built  in  1717, 
a  few  rods  south  east  of  the  Common,  near  what  is  now  Trum- 
bull Square.     In  1719  a  more  commodious  structure  was  erect- 
ed on  the  site  of  the  present  meeting  house  on   the  Common. 
This  had  at  first  no  tower,  or  finishing  of  the  interior,  except 
the  flooring,  and  simple  benches  served  for  pews.     In   1723,  a 
pulpit  was  set  up,  and  long  seats  provided,  and  soon  after,  gal- 
leries were  put  in.     In  1733,  it  was  voted  "that  the  front  of  tlio 
gallery,  the  pulpit,  and  pillars  be  colored   and  varnished,  and 
the  outside  of  the  doors  and  windows ;  and  the  town  thankful- 
ly accepts  the  X5  offered  by  Col.   John   Chandler  towards  the 
same ;  and  being  informed   that  Daniel  Gookin,  Esq.,   [then 
sheriff  of  the  county,]  has  been  pleased  to  say  he  would  give 
something  towards  said  work,  voted  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  ascertain  of  him  what  he   would  give  towards  said 
coloring  and  varnishing."     In  1737,  Col.  (afterwards  Judge) 
John  Chandler,  the  most  distinguished  citizen  of  the  town  and 
member  of  the  church,  donated   a  full  communion   service,  a 
portion  of  which  is  still  in  use  by  tlie  society,  after  a  lapse  of 


Yt'  Plan  of  ye  Lower  Floor  of  ye  Meeting- House,  1763. 


M„.  21.  Nu.  20.  No.  19.  ,  No.  18. 

prt  narl'rr.  '  Elieha  aoj  Daniel  and  .'ohn  Ohandler,  Esq. 

Robert  Smith.  Abe\  Heywood. 


FXTH.FIT. 


No.  32. 


1 

No.  4S.                    No.  49. 

No  50 

,    JameH                     Daniel 

Town'.s   Pew. 

McFarland.            Mcfarland. 

No.  17.  i  No.  If..  No.  15.  No.  14. 

jHcob  Francis  1  Josiah  Daniel  Ward, 

llemmenway.  |  Harrington,  i        Harrington. 


No. 

45. 

No.  4C. 

No.  4 

I 

James  Pu 

nan 

,E«|. 

Gcrshom  and 

.Tsnathan 

Slone. 

Uoinfort  Kioe 

1 

No.  28. 
slia  .'niitll,; 


No.  24. 
ac  Gleason. 


Nortli 
iDtrance  Ihn 
the  Tower. 


No.  51. 
John  CurtiB- 


No.  44 
Thos.  Stearnes. 


No.  42. 
Daniel    Boyden. 


No.  28. 
laraiiel  Hunt, 
.\sflignee  of 


No.   54. 
William 

McFarland. 

No.   56. 
BanKKiagg. 

No.   56. 
Mathew  Omy. 

No.  57. 
James 

No.   58. 
Isaac  Moore. 

Josepli  Blair. 

No.    fiO. 
Jona.  & 
David  Fi.h. 

No.    151. 
Robert 

Gray,  Jr. 

No.   38. 
Thoma«  Rice. 

No.   34. 
F,bcnczer 

Lovell. 

1 

No.   39. 
iJohnChadwiclt. 

No     40. 
David 

No.   41. 
Samuel  Curtis. 

No.   35. 
A^  Moore. 

No    36. 
John  Mower. 

No.  37. 
Thomas 

Palmer. 

No.  30.  I  No.  31. 

Jacoh  Holmes,  i    Samuel  Mo 


Chandler,  Esq.  [  Paine,  Ksq. 


Entrance 

by  Front  or  West 

Porch. 


Nathaniel  j  Gardner 

Adams.  1    Chandler,  Esq. 


No. 

13. 

Tyrus 

Rice. 

No. 

12. 

i  Joshua 

hitney. 

No 

11. 

1    Nath'l 

Moore. 

No 

10. 

Nathan 

! 

Perr; . 

NO 

9 

1  JosiahClark.Jr.  1 

1 

through  South 


Entered  from  y^  Original  and  Compared  therewith,  Pr  J.  Chandler,  Town  Clerk. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester  113 

140  yeai'S.  In  1743  a  small  steeple  was  added  to  the  structure, 
and  a  bell  weighing  300  pounds,  and  costing  £140,  was  hung 
in  it.  This  hell,  previously  owned  jointly  by  the  county  and 
town,  had  l)een  suspended,  for  a  while,  from  a  tree  midway 
between  the  Court  House  and  meeting-house,  for  county  as 
well  as  town  use,  and  the  same  bell  was  undoubtedly  used  for 
a  time  in  the  next  meeting  house  built,  the  present  one. 

September  3,  1749,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  ex- 
tended by  the  church  and  pastor  "  to  Hon.  John  Chandler  for 
Ids  present  of  a  handsome  folio  bible  for  the  reading  of  the 
Scriptures,"  which  is  another  of  the  valuable  relics  preserved 
by  the  society. 

Some  idea  of  the  size  and  interior  construction  of  the  old 
house,  which  was  torn  down  when  the  present  one  was  put  up, 
on  its  site,  may  be  inferred  from  the  subjoined  description  of 
the  location  of  the  different  occupants  of  seats.  May  30,  1733, 
soon  after  the  edifice  was  fully  completed,  inside,  Deacons 
Nathaniel  Moore  and  Daniel  Hey  wood,  Lieut.  Henry  Lee, 
James  Howe,  Capt.  Palmer  Goulding  and  Major  Jonas  Rice, 
who  had  been ''appointed  a  committee  to  seat  ye  meethig 
house,  pursuant  to  instructions^  reported  the  followhig  appoint- 
ments," designating  a  seat  for  each  person  named,  and  his 
family : 

Sittings  of  the  Old  Meeting  House,  1733. 

In  ye  fore  section  of  ye  body — Gershom  Rice,  John  Gray, 
Benjamin  Flagg,  John  Stearns,  Caleb  Johnson,  John  Adams. 

In  ye  second  section  of  ye  body — Thomas  Haggitt,  Wm. 
Gray,  John  Smith,  James  Hambleton,  Andrew  McFarland,  John 
Clark,  Robert  Peables,  Jacob  Holmes. 

In  ye  third  section  of  ye  body — Matthew  Gray,  Alexander 
McKonkey,  Wm.  Caldwell,  John  Duncan,  Wm.  Gray,  Jr., 
Matthew  Gray,  Jr.,  Andrew  McFarland,  Jr.,  John  Gray,  Jr. 

In  ye  fourth  section  of  ye  body — David  Glise  (or  Gleason), 
Abraham  Wheeler,  Moses  Harper,  James  Thornington,  John 
Battey,  Omphrey  Tailor,  Oliver  Wallis,  Robert  Blair. 

In  ye  fifth  section  of  ye  body — James  Furbush,  John  Alick- 
sander  (or  Alexander),  Wm.  Mahan,  John  Stimson,  Duncan 
Graham,  John  McFarland,  Joseph  Clark. 


114  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

In  ye  sixth  section  of  ye  body — John  Smitli,  Jr.,  John  Pat- 
rick, James  Glasford,  Wm.  Brown,  Win.  Nichols,  Jolm  Star- 
liuiT  (or  Sterling),  Hugh  Calso  (or  Kelso). 

In  ye  fore  section  of  ye  foremost  gallery — James  Holden, 
Moses  Rice,  James  Moore,  Thomas  Moore,  Thomas  Stearns, 
Daniel  Ward,  Jotham  Rice,  Solomon  Jolmson,  Joseph  Croshy, 
Thomas  Gleason. 

In  ye  second  section  in  ye  foremost  gallery — Samuel  Gray, 
Zebadiah  Rice,  Joseph  Rugg,  EHakim  Rice,  Mattliias  Rice, 
Thomas  Hambleton,  Matthew  Clark,  Wm.  Temple,  Isaac  Ward. 

In  ye  fore  section  of  ye  long  gallery — Richard  Ward,  VVm. 
McGlellan,  Charles  Adams,  Isaac  Moore,  James  McClellan, 
Ephraim  Rice,  Tyrus  Rice,  Phinchas  Rice,  Jonas  Rice,  Ebenezer 
Flagg,  Thomas  Adams,  Daniel  Bigelow,  Thomas  Parker,  Elijah 
Cook,  John  Cishiel,  Obadiah  Ward,  Bcnj.  Gates,  Robert  Barber. 

In  ye  second  section  in  ye  long  gallery — Patrick  Peables,  Ed- 
ward Knight,  Jeremiah  Rice,  Wm.  Harris,  John  McKonkey, 
Robert  Marble,  John  Peables. 

There  were  thus  six  sections  in  the  body  of  the  old  structure, 
seating  from  six  to  eight  families  each,  or  about  forty-six  fam- 
ilies in  all  on  the  first  floor  ;  a  foremost  or  front  gallery  of  two 
sections,  seating  eighteen  families,  or  nine  in  each  section  ;  and 
a  long  gallery  of  two  sections,  seating  twenty-six  families. 
The  seating  arrangement  as  thus  arranged,  was  for  eighty-nine 
families,  of  whom  about  one-half  were  provided  for  in  the  gal- 
leries. As  the  names  of  the  deacons  are  not  included  in  the 
list,  it  is  presumed  they  had  seats  of  honor,  specially  provided 
for  them,  in  front. 

These  names  give  us  an  idea  of  who  were  the  principal  re- 
sidents here  at  that  period — the  then  "  solid  men  of  Worcester." 
Col.  John  Chandler,  son  of  the  first  Judge,  was  then  a  resident 
here,  being  then  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  as  well  as 
occupant  of  several  county  offices,  a^id  he  was  probably  given  a 
seat  of  honor  with  the  deacons. 

The  Present  Meeting  House. 

In  1763  the  present  meeting  house  was  erected  on  the  same 
site  as  the  previous  one.  It  was  originally  seventy  feet 
long  by  fifty-five  feet  wide,  with  twenty-eight  feet  posts,  and 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  115 

liad  a  tower  on  the  north,  surmounted  by  a  spire.  130 
feet  higli,  tlie  whole  cost  being  X1542.  The  pulpit  was  on 
tlie  east  side,  and  there  were  galleries  on  the  north,  south  and 
west  sides.  There  were  sixty-one  square  box  pews  on  the  low- 
er floor,  that  considered  tlie  best,  or  the  pew  of  honor,  on 
the  riglit  and  almost  under  the  high  pulpit,  valued  at  X9,  being 
assigned  to  Judge  John  Chandler  as  an  acknowledgment  oi  his 
donation  of  X40,  the  largest  sum  contributed  by  any  single  in- 
divdual,  toward  tlie  building  of  the  structure.  Immediately  in 
front  of  the  pulpit  was  a  long  pew  for  aged  and  deaf  persons, 
and  just  in  front  of  the  latter  another  pew  for  the  deacons,  the 
central  aisle  leading  therefrom  to  the  main  entrance  on  the 
west  side.  On  each  side  of  the  central  aisle,  midway  between 
the  pulpit  and  main  entrance,  were  seven  slips  for  free  seats  for 
those  unable  to  pay,  those  on  the  south  side  for  the  men,  and 
those  on  the  north  side  for  the  women.  The  sixty-one  square 
pews  were  all  appraised,  and  the  choice  of  them  offered  to  the 
people  in  the  order  of  the  amount  of  taxes  on  their  real  estate, 
respectively,  beginning  with  the  highest,  the  proprietors  of  the 
pews  thus  comprising  the  wealthiest  and  leading  citizens  of  the 
town.     The  prices  paid  ranged  from  <£9  to  £\  1-2  each. 

Though  the  principal  entrance  was  on  the  west  side,  fronting 
oft  the  "country  road,"  now  Main  street,  there  was  also  an  en- 
trance through  a  porch  on  the  south  end  toward  Park  street, 
and  another  through  the  tower  on  the  north  end,  there  being  a 
door  on  each  of  the  three  sides  of  the  tower.  The  porch  at  the 
main  entrance  had  wide  double  doors  in  front  and  a  single  door 
on  each  side.  This  latter  porch  gave  access  to  both  the  floor  of 
the  house  and  the  west  gallery,  and  it  was  from  its  roof,  as  his 
rostrum,  that  Isaiah  Thomas,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  July, 
177(3,  read  to  the  people,  the  first  time  it  was  proclaimed  on 
Massachusetts  soil,  the  immortal  Declaration  of  Independence, 
just  then  received  from  Philadelphia,  where  the  Continental 
Congress  was  in  session,  that  document  (in  a  printed  copy  of 
the  Philadelphia  Gazette)  being  intercepted  here  by  Mr.  Thom- 
as, while  on  its  way  by  express  messenger  through  Worcester 
to  the  headquarters  of  the  Provincial  Army  at  Boston,  ten  days 
having  been  occupied  in  the  journey  hither  from  Philadelphia. 


IIG  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  buildinp:  committee  of  the  church,  chosen  May  17,  1TG2, 
consisted  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  time :  Judge  John 
Chandler,  Attorney  General  James  Putnam,  Joshua  and  David 
Bigelow,  Jacob  Hemenvvay,  Capt.  John  Curtis,  Samuel  Mower, 
Josiah  Brewer,  Daniel  Boyden,  James  Goodwin  and  Elijah 
Smith.  The  building  was  begun  June  21,  1763,  and  the  work 
prosecuted  with  such  energy  toward  completion  that  tlie  first 
public  religious  services  were  held  in  it  on  tlie  eighth  day  of 
the  following  December,  the  day  assigned  for  the  annual  thanks- 
giving in  the  Province,  when  an  appropriate  historical  discourse 
was  delivered  by  tho  pastor.  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,  from 
1st  Chron.  29  :  16,  17. 

The  framer  of  the  cliurch  was  Daniel  Hemenway  of  Shrews- 
bury, a  noted  church-builder  of  his  time,  who  also  constructed 
the  first  meeting-houses  in  Shrewsbury  and'Northborough.  He 
was  assisted  by  his  brother,  Jacob  Hemenway,  also  a  carpenter, 
and  a  prominent  member  of  this  church,  whose  pew  was  at  the 
left  of  the  pulpit,  a  door  opening  directly  therefrom  into  a  cup- 
board or  store-room  under  the  high  pulpit,  to  which  Lieut. 
Hemenway  held  the  key,  and  in  which,  though  a  good  temper- 
ance man,  he  kept  for  the  accommodation  of  tlie  congregation, 
at  noon  time,  a  home  manufactured  beverage  from  the  clioicest 
products  of  his  orchard.  His  residence  was  on  a  farm  of  21*0 
acres  on  the  north  side  of  May  street,  in  the  vicinity  of  Beaver 
Brook,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  Patcli.  His 
brother  Daniel  was  grandfather  of  the  late  Edward  H.  Hemen- 
way and  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Wm.  Workman  of  Worcester. 

It  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  the  timber  for  this  house  was 
taken  principally  from  the  woods,  then  standing  south-east  of 
the  Common  in  the  direction  of  what  is  now  Union  Hill,  and 
some  of  it  from  Tatnuck. 

The  old  meeting  house  remained  exactly  the  same  for  twenty 
years  till  1783,  when  the  first  alteration  was  made  in  the  inte- 
rior, by  taking  out  four  of  the  back  free  seats,  two  on  each  side 
of  the  main  aisle,  and  putting  in  four  new  pews  in  their  places, 
to  supply  the  increasing  demand  for  pews.  The  work  was  done 
under  the  supervision  of  a  committee  of  the  town,  consisting  of 
Hon.  Timothy  Paine,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  and  Joseph  Wheeler, 


Remmiscences  of    Worcester.  117 

Esq.,  Register  of  Probate.  The  new  pews  were  sold  at  a  large- 
ly enchanced  price  ;  those  on  the  south  side  of  the  broad  aisle 
to  Daniel  Waldo,  Senior,  who  had  then  just  come  to  town,  and 
Isaiah  Thomas  ;  and  those  on  the  north  side  to  Dr.  Elijah  Dix, 
and  Nathan  Patch,  an  extensive  landed  proprietor  and  builder. 
Twenty-two  years  later,  in  1805,  eight  more  of  the  free  slips 
were  removed,  and  eight  more  new  pews  substituted  in  their 
places,  leaving  two  free  seats  in  front  for  aged  people.  Judge 
Benjamin  Heywood,  Col.  Samuel  Flagg  and  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske 
were  the  committee  chosen  to  erect  and  make  sale  of  these 
eight  additional  pews,  the  purchasers  being  Dr.  John  Green, 
Ephraim  and  John  Mower,  Daniel  Denny,  Samuel  Harrington, 
Edward  Knight,  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske  and  Moses  Perry. 

A  more  radical  change  in  the  interior  arrangements  of  the 
structure  was  made  in  1827-8,  after  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Rod- 
ney A.  Miller,  when  all  the  old-fashioned  pews  gave  place  to 
ninety-two  modern  slips  on  the  floor,  and  forty-two  in  the  gal- 
leries. The  ancient  high  pulpit  and  sounding  board,  with  the 
pendant  dove  bearing  an  olive  branch  over  the  minister's  head, 
disappeared,  the  gallery  on  the  east  side  was  put  in,  and  a  pul- 
pit of  more  modern  construction  was  placed  at  the  north 
end  of  the  audience  room.  The  porch  upon  the  west  side  of 
the  house  was  at  the  same  time  removed,  and  the  wings  placed 
on  each  side  of  the  bell  tower.  These  changes  gave  the  con- 
struction a  well  appearing  northern,  instead  of  the  former  west- 
ern front,  the  entrances  thereafter  being  only  at  the  northern 
and  southern  ends.  The  next  alteration  was  made  in  1835, 
when  an  addition  of  twenty -five  feet  was  made  to  the  south 
end  of  the  house,  to  afford  room  for  a  vestry  or  chapel  room 
put  into  the  second  story  over  the  vestibule  or  entrance.  This 
change,  involving  the  destruction  of  the  ancient  porch  at  the 
south  end,  increased  the  length  of  the  house  to  its  present  di- 
mensions, 95  by  ^^  feet.  In  1846,  an  arrangement  was  made  by 
which  the  lower  floor  of  this  addition,  which  had  for  eleven 
years  been  used  as  a  vestibule,  was  fitted  up  for  the  vestry  or 
chapel  room,  the  organ  loft  being  erected  above,  with  a  conven- 
ient committee  room  or  study  upon  the  east  side  of  it. 

The  last  change,  more  essentially  modernizing  the   outside 
appearance  of  this  venerable  structure,  was  made  in  1871,  when 


118  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

the  present  twelve  long  tinted  windows  were  substituted  for 
the  numerous  ancient  ones,  which  had  so  long  admitted  the 
light  through  their  numberless  diminutive  panes. 

The  bell,  now  used,  weighing  1975  pounds,  was  cast  by  Paul 
Revere  &  Sons  in  Boston  in  1802,  and  our  venerable  fellow 
citizen,  Rev.  George  Allen,  assisted  at  the  rope  in  hoisting  it  to 
its  present  position  seventy-five  years  ago,  when  a  lad  of  eleven. 
The  present  tower  clock  w^as  made  in  1800  by  Abel  Stowell,  the 
noted  clock-maker  of  the  last  century,  whose  residence  and 
shop  were  on  the  corner  of  Park  and  Portland  streets,  just  east 
of  the  parsonage  of  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty. 

The  old  South  Church  has  had  twelve  settled  pastors  during 
the  160  years  since  its  organization  in  1716,  as  follows,  averag- 
ing 13  1-2  years  for  each  pastorate  : 

The  Pastors. 

1.  Rev.  Andrew  Gardner,  born  in  Brookline,  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1712,  was  settled  at  Worcester  in  the  autumn  of 
1719,  and  dismissed  Oct.  31,  1722,  on  account  of  differences 
with  his  congregation,  growing  out  of  his  many  eccentricities. 
He  was  afterwards  settled  for  three  years  in  Lunenburg,  taught 
school  there  several  years,  and  removed  thence  to  Charlestown, 
N.  H.,  where  he  preached  a  short  time,  before  the  installation 
of  the  first  settled  pastor  there  in  1754.  Records  are  in  ev- 
idence that  he  could  fight  with  muskets  as  well  as  with  spirit- 
ual weapons,  as  he  and  his  son,  Andrew  Gardner,  Jr.,  both  did 
valiant  service  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  the  father  serv- 
ing for  some  time  as  chaplain  at  Fort  Dummer.  He  lived  to  a 
very  advanced  age. 

Rev.  Mr.  Gardner  married,  while  in  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  the 
widow  of  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  the  first  minister  of  Rutland, 
the  latter  having  been  killed  by  the  Indians  just  before  tlie  day 
fixed  upon  for  his  installation,  Aug.  11,  1723,  at  the  same  time 
that  two  of  the  sons  of  Dea.  Joseph  Stevens  were  slain,  and 
two  others  taken  prisoners  to  Canada,  from  Rutland,  where 
they  were  surprised  by  the  savages  while  making  hay  in  a 
meadow.  Mr.  Gardner  received  into  his  family  the  surviving 
children  of  Mr.  Willard,  William  and  Joseph,  who  then  became 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  119 

liis  step-sous,  and  educated  them  witli  his  own  cliildreu.  Tliis 
secoud  Joseph  Willard,  Mr.  Garduer's  stepson,  was  afterwards 
taken  prisoner  witli  his  wife  and  children,  June  7,  1760,  by  the 
Indians,  and  taken  to  Canada,  but  were  soon  returned  after  the 
surrender  of  Montreal  by  the  French. 

2.  Rev.  Isaac  Burr,  born  in  Fairfield,  Conn.,  in  1798,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1717,  settled  here,  Oct.  30,  1725,  dismissed  in 
March,  1745,  after  a  successful  ministry  of  twenty  years,  and 
removed  to  Windsor,  Vt.  His  dismissal  arose  from  differences 
growing  out  of  his  not  fellowshiping  with  sufficient  zeal  the 
labors  of  the  distinguished  and  eloquent  revivalist  preacher, 
Whitefield,  who  went  through  Worcester  on  his  New  England 
tour  in  the  fall  of  1740,  preaching  in  the  open  air  to  such  num- 
erous congregations  that  no  house  could  contain  them.  Hg 
was  in  Worcester,  Oct.  15,  where  he  exhorted  to  an  immense 
congregation  on  the  common,  arriving  here,  the  night  before, 
from  Marlboro',  in  company  with  Gov.  Belcher,  and  stopping  at 
Judge  Chandler's.  Gov.  Belcher,  who  was  much  affected  with 
his  preaching,  advised  Whitefield  to  "go  on  stirring  up  the 
ministers."  Mr.  Burr  was  brother  of  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  pre- 
sident of  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey,  and  son  of  Hon.  Peter 
Burr,  Judge  of  Probate  and  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Fairfield 
County,  Connecticut,  from  1711  to  1724.  Aaron  Burr,  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States  from  1801  to  1805,  was  son  of 
Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  and  consequently  nephew  of  the  minister  in 
Worcester.  Rev.  Isaac  Burr's  residence,  while  he  preached 
here,  was  in  the  ancient  house,  then  located  on  the  south  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Pleasant  streets,  afterwards  occupied  by  John 
Nazro,  John  Foxcroft  and  others,  and  still  standing  on  Black- 
stone  street,  to  which  place  it  was  removed  some  thirty-five 
years  ago.  * 

3.  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,  son  of  Capt.  Thaddeus  Mac- 
carty,  was  born  in  Boston  in  1721,  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1739,  settled  three  years  at  Kingston,  installed  in  Worcester, 
June  10,  1747,  and  died  here  after  a  ministry  of  thirty-seven 
years,  July  20,  1784.  It  is  a  singular  circumstance  that  Mr. 
Maccarty's  dismis^^sion  from  the  church  in  Kingston,  before  he 
came  here,  arose  from  differences  with  his  congregation  there, 


120  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

gTowinf^  out  of  his  sympathy  with  Whitefield,  just  then  in  Ply- 
mouth, they  liaving  about  the  same  feeling  regarding  the  great 
revivalist  that  Mr.  Burr  had  in  Worcester.  Of  the  fifteen  chil- 
dren of  Rev.  Thaddeus  and  Mary  (Gatcomb)  Maccarty,  only 
the  following  seven  lived  to  mature  age  :  Dr.  Thaddeus,  born 
in  1747,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1766,  practised  in  Worcester  and 
in  Keene,  N.  H.,  married,  in  1775,  Experience,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Thomas  Cowdin  of  Fitchburg,  and  died  in  Keene,  Nov. 
21,  1802,  where  their  only  daughter,  wdio  married  John  W. 
Stiles,  was  born,  the  latter  being  parents  of  Mrs.  Alfred  D. 
Foster  and  Mrs.  Henry  K.  Newcomb  ;  Mary,  born  in  1750, 
married,  in  1781,  Hon.  Benjamin  West  of  Charlestown,  N.  H., 
previously  a  school-teacher  in  W^orcester,  and  died  in  1803 ; 
Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  7,  1753,  died  in  1823;  Wm.  Greenough 
Maccarty,  born  Dec.  20,  1753,  quartermaster  in  Col.  Timothy 
Bigelovv's  (15th  Mass.)  Regiment,  and  died  at  Billericain  1791 ; 
Nathaniel,  born  in  1758,  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer  in  the 
Spy  office  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  afterwards  merchant  in  Worcester 
and  in  Petersham,  and  died  at  Worcester,  Oct.  14, 1881  ;  Lucy, 
born  in  1760,  died  in  1813  ;  Lucretia,  born  in  1762,  died  in 
1810.  The  mother  died  here,  Dec.  28,  1783,  the  year  before 
her  husband.  Rev.  Thaddeus  Alaccarty's  residence  was  on 
what  is  now  Park  street,  just  east  of  Portland  street. 

4.  Rev.  Samuel  Austin,  D.  D.,  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn., 
Nov.  7,  1760,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1784,  installed  in  W^orces- 
ter,  Sept.  30,  1790,  left  in  1815,  when  he  was  elested  President 
of  the  University  of  Vermont  at  Burlington,  where  he  remain- 
ed seven  years,  and  died  in  Glastonbury,  Conn.,  Dec.  4,  1830. 
His  parsonage  here  was  the  old  mansion  on  the  north  corner  of 
Main  and  Austin  streets,  afterwards  occupied  by  the  late  S.  H. 
Colton,  and  now  standing  on  Grand  street. 

5.  Rev.  Charles  A.  Goodrich,  born  in  Ridgefield,  Conn., 
Aug.  19,  1790,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1815,  installed  here,  July 
15, 1816,  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  Nov.  14,  1820,  after- 
wards engaged  in  literary  labors,  and  author  of  numerous 
works,  and  died  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  June  4,  1802,  aged  72. 

6.  Rev.  Arastius  B.  Hull,  born  in  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  Oct. 
12,  1783,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1807,  tutor  there  six  years,  set- 


Eeminiscences  of    Worcester.  121 

tl(3(i  in  Worcester,  May  22,  1721,  and  died  here.  May  IT, 
182G,  after  a  year's  illness  from  consumption. 

At  liis  installation  here,  the  introductory  prayer  was  hy  Rev. 
Dr.  Reuben  Puffer  of  Berlin,  sermon  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  W. 
Taylor  of  New  Haven,  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev.  Daniel 
Tomlinson  of  Oakham,  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Avery  of  Holden,  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Nelson  of  Leicester,  address  to  the  church  by  Rev.  Dr.  Tfomas 
Snell  of  North  Brookfield,  the  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  Micali 
Stone  of  Brookfield  ;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Sumner  of  Shrews- 
bury presided  in  the  council.  Mr.  Hull's  two  sons.  Rev.  Joseph 
D.  Hull  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Auretius  B.  Hull  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  were  present  at  the  centennial  of  the  old  meeting- 
house, Sept.  22,  1863,  and  improved  the  occasion  to  visit  tie 
grave  of  their  father  in  the  Rural  Cemetery, 

7.  Rev.  Rodney  A.  Miller,  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  graduated 
at  Union  College  in  1821,  and  at  Princeton  Theological  Sem- 
inary, New  Jersey,  ordained  at  Worcester,  June  7,  1827,  and 
after  a  pastorate  of  seventeen  years,  was  dismissed  April  12, 
1844,  on  account  of  differences  with  his  congregation,  arising 
chiefly  out  of  antagonistic  political  views,  as  parties  were  then 
divided,  he  being  a  Van  Buren  Democrat,  and  the  great  major- 
ity of  his  hearers,  Whigs.  After  the  Free  Soil  movement  of 
1848,  however,  he  continued  a  firm  and  decided  republican  in 
his  politics.  In  1830,  the  members  of  his  church  organized  the 
first  temperance  society  formed  in  Worcester,  of  which  Mr^ 
Miller  was  president.  After  leaving  his  pastorate,  he  resided 
alternately  in  W^orcester  and  his  native  city  of  Troy,  N.  Y., 

[Note  referring  to  No^  4  &  5  on  opposite  page.] 
At  the  installation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Austin,  Sept.  80,  1790,  the  sermon  was  deliver 
eu  by  his  father-in-law,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins,  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev 
Ebenezer  Chaplin  of  Sutton,  charge  by  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Sumner  of  Shrewsbury, 
right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Nehemiah  Williams  of  Brimfield,  and  conclud- 
ing prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons  of  Franklin.  At  the  ordination  and 
installation  of  Rev.  Charles  A.  Goodrich,  Oct.  9,  1816,  the  introductory  prayer 
was  by  Hev.  Benjamin  Wood  of  Upton,  sermon  by  Rev.  Samuel  Goodiich  of 
Berlin,  Conn.,  lather  of  the  pastor-elect,  conseci'ating  prayer  by  Rev.  Edmund 
Mills  of  Sutton,  address  by  Rev.  Joseph  Goffe  of  Millbury,  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship by  Rev.  Dr.  .John  Nelson  of  Leicester.  Besides  a  volume  of  doctrinal  dis- 
courses. Dr.  Austin  published  thirty-three  sermons  and  addresses  on  various 
occasions.  He  collected  and  published  the  only  complete  edition  of  the  works 
of  President  Edwards. 


122  lleininiscences  of    Worcester. 

where  lie  owned  consi(lei'al)le  landed  property,  and  died  there, 
Sept.  29,  187G,  aged  79.  He  was  nine  years  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers  of  Harvard  College,  from  1843  to  1852. 

At  the  time*  of  Mr.  Miller's  settlement,  nearly  fifty  years  ago, 
the  old  house  presented  almost  exactly  the  same  appearance  as 
at  its  original  construction,  sixty-four  years  previous,  witli  the 
old  pulpit  on  the  east  side,  and  the  ancient  porch  and  main  en- 
trance fronting  on  Main  street.  The  ordination  and  installa 
tion  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  preached  hy  Rev.  Warren  Fay 
of  Charlestown,  the  ordaining  prayer  "was  offered  by  Rev.  Micah 
Stone  of  Brookfield,  the  address  to  the  people  was  given  by 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Fiske  of  New  Braintree,  the  charge  to  the  pastor 
was  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Snell  of  North  Brookficld,  and 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship  was  presented  by  our  venerated 
fellow  citizen,  Rev.  George  Allen,  then  of  Shrewsbui-y,  now  the 
solitary  survivor  of  those  who  took  part  in  those  exercises  of 
haF  a  century  ago-;  with  the  exception  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edward 
Beecner,  now  of  New  York,  who  invoked  the  divine  blessing  on 
those  pioceedings. 

8.  Rev.  Geor<>:e  P.  Smith,  ])orn  at  Salem  in  1814.  c^raduated 
at  Amherst  and  Andover,  ordained  at  South  Woburn  in  1841, 
installed  at  Worcester,  March  19,  1845  ;  death  terminating  h:s 
connection  here,  Sept.  3,  1852,  while  on  a  vacation  for  his 
health,  at  Salem,  at  the  early  age  of  38.  At  his  installation 
here,  thirty-two  years  ago,  the  introductory  prayer  w^as  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Bennett  of  Woburn,  sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Snell  of 
North  Brookfield,  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Horatio 
Bardwell  of  Oxford,  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Nelson  of  Leicester,  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Dr.  Elam 
Smalley  of  the  Union  Church,  Worcester,  and  concluding 
prayer  by  Rev.  Asa  Bullard  of  Fitchburg. 

9.  Rev.  Horace  James,  born  in  Medford,  May  6, 1818,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1840,  and  at  Andover,  was  settled  a  fev/  years 
at  Wrentham,  and  installed  at  Worcester,  Feb.  3,  1853.  He 
was  chaplain  of  the  25th  Regiment  M.  Y.  during  the  war  of 
the  rebellion,  and  dismissed  from  the  church  here,  Jan.  8, 1863. 
After  the  war,  he  was  settled  a  few  years  at  Lowell,  at  the  same 
time  acting  as  assistant   editor  of  the   Congregationalist.     Pic 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  123 

next  officiated  foi"  several  years  as  Secretary  of  tlie  Bible  Socie- 
ty at  New  York  City,  after  which  lie  made  an  extended  jour- 
ney throuo'h  the  eastern  countries,  while  in  Palestine  contract- 
ing a  severe  cold  wliicli  resulted  in  consumption,  and  finally 
in  his  decease,  at  Boylston,  Juno  9,  1875,  aged  59.  While 
pastor  he  was  an  active  and  energetic  worker  in  behalf  of 
temperance  and  other  moral  causes.  At  his  settlement  here, 
twenty-four  years  ago,  the  installing  prayer  was  by  Rev.  Rod- 
ney A.  Miller  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  A.  Park  of  An- 
dover  ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  D.  R.  Cady  of  Westboro' ; 
right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  George  Bushnell,  then  of 
Salem  Street  Church,  Worcester  ;  address  to  the  people  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Elam  Smalley,  then  of  the  Union  Church,  Worcester  ; 
and  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Horatio  Bardwell  of  Ox- 
ford.    But  two  of  the  above  now  survive. 

10.  Rev.  Edward  Ashley  Walker,  born  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  Nov.  24,  1834,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1856,  studied  theol- 
ogy at  New  Haven,  Heidelberg  and  Berlin,"  and  was  ordained 
at  New  Haven,  June  5,  1861  ;  chaplain  of  the  First  Connecticut 
Vol.  Heavy  Artillery,  but  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  af- 
ter fifteen  months'  service.  He  was  installed  at  Worcester,  Ju- 
ly 2,  1863.  During  his  pastorate  the  interesting  exercises  in 
celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  building  of 
the  present  clmrch  edifice,  took  place,  Sept.  22,  1863,  on  which 
occasion  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton  presided,  and  a  historical  dis- 
course was  preached  by  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D.,  of  New 
Haven,  Conn.  Mr.  Walker  was  an  able  and  eloquent  preachei-, 
but  ill  health  compelled  his  resignation  after  a  pastorate  of  two 
years,  and  he  was  dismissed  Sept.  20,  1865.  He  was  never  af- 
terwards settled.  He  died  at  Marquette,  Michigan,  April  10, 
1866,  at  the  early  age  of  31.  His  wife  was  Katharine  K  , 
daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Willard  Child,  who  preached  the  sermon 
at  the  installation  here  of  his  son-in-law,  on  which  occasion  the 
installing  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Seth  Sweetser  of  the 
Central  Church,  the  charge  to  the  pastor  was  given  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Noali  Porter  of  New  Haven, .the  right  hand  of  fellowship 
was  extended  by  Rev.  George  B.  Bacon,  and  the  address  to  the 
people  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon  of  New  Haven. 


124  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

11.  Rov.  Royal  B.  Strattoii,  born  in  Fottsdam,  New  York, 
was  a  self-educated  man,  his  first  eleven  years'  experience  as  a 
preacher,  beginniiio:  at  21  years  of  age,  being  as  a  Methodist, 
four  years  in  New  York  City  and  seven  years  as  a  home  mis- 
sionary on  tlie  Pacific  Coast,  with  headquarters  at  Sacramento. 
He  was  then  settled  for  four  years  over  a  Congregational 
Church  in  Great  Barrington,  after  wliich  he  was  settled  in 
Worcester,  Jan.  2,  1867,  where  he  remained  five  years,  resign- 
ing in  1872,  (dismissed  April  25,)  on  account  of  ill  health, 
manifesting  itself  in  a  tendency  toward  insanity,  which  ter- 
minated in  his  decease  Jan.  24,  1875,  at  Worcester.  He  was 
an  enthusiastic  Christian  worker  and  somewhat  radical  in  his 
views  on  reform  atory  questions,  resulting  perhaps  from  a 
lack  of  evenness  of  temperament,  but  he  was  universally 
esteemed  for  the  sincerity  of  his  convictions.  The  exercises  at 
his  installation  here  were  as  follows  : — Reading  of  Scriptures 
and  prayer  by  Rev.  Wm.  Phipps  of  Paxton  ;  sermon  by  Rev. 
Ray  Palmer  of  New  York,  from  Matt.  22  :  42  ;  installing  pray- 
er by  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Paine  of  Holden  ;  charge  to  the  pastor 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Seth  Sweetser  of  Worcester  ;  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship by  Rev.  Merrill  Richardson  of  Salem  Street  Church  ;  ad- 
dress to  the  people  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ebcnczer  Cutler  of  the  Union 
Church;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Coolidge  of  Leices- 
ter. 

From  July,  1872,  to  January,  1874,  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Parry,  from  Nottingham,  England,  afterwards 
of  the  Tabernacle  Church,  Worcester. 

12.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mighill,  the  present  pastor,  graduated 
at  Amherst  and  Andover  in  18 G4,  was  settled  two  years 
at  Cambridge  and  eight  years  at  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  and 
installed  at  Worcester,  Sept.  15,  1875,  with  the  following  ex- 
ercises :  Introductory  prayer  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Lamson  of  Salem 
Street  Church  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  George  L.  Walker,  D.  D.,  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  John  8  :  12  ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by 
Rev.  A.  H.  Plumb  of  Boston  ;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev. 
George  W.  Phillips  of  Plymouth  Church  ;  charge  to  the  people 
by  Rev.  George  H.  Gould,  D.  D.,  of  Piedmont  Church  ;  closing 
prayer  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Barnes  of  the  Central  (Calvinistic) 
Church,  Worcester. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  125 

Durinp:  Mr.  Migliill's  vacation  since  Nov.  1,  1870,  on  account 
of  ill  licaltli,  tlie  pulpit  has  been  supplied  by  Rev.  L.  B.  Voor- 
hees,  late  of  North  Weymouth. 

The  Deacons. 

The  deacons  of  the  Old  Church,  from  its  first  organization, 
and  their  respective  terms  of  service,  have  been  :  Daniel  II ey- 
wood,  57  years,  from  171G  to  1773  ;  Nathaniel  Moore,  45  years, 
from  1716  to  1761  ;  Jonas  Rice,  5  years,  from  1748  to  1753  ; 
Thomas  Wheeler,  21  years,  from  1748  to  1769;  Jacob  Cham 
berlain,  39  years,  from  1751  to  1790  ;  Samuel  Miller,  8  years, 
from  1751  to  1759  ;  Nathan  Perry,  23  years,  from  1783  to 
1806  ;  Thomas  Wheeler,  12  years,  from  1783  to  1795  ;  John 
Chamberlain,  22  years,  from  1791  to  1813  ;  Leonard  Worces- 
ter, 4  years,  from  1797  to  1801  :  David  Richards,  28  years, 
from  1801  to  1829  ;  Moses  Perry,  30  years,  from  1807  to  1836  ; 
John  Nelson,  22  years,  from  1812  to  1834;  Lewis  Chapin,  10 
years,  from  1833  to  1843  ;  Moses  Brigham,  4  years,  from  1853 
to  1837  ;  Nathaniel  Brooks  and  Nahum  Nixon,  each  14  years, 
from  1836  to  1850 ;  John  Bixby,  17  years,  from  1836  to  1853  ; 
Richard  Ball,  22  years,  from  1845  to  1867  ;  Allen  Harris,  19 
years,  from  1845  to  1864  ;  Jonas  M.  Miles,  14  years,  from  1845 
to  1859;  Caleb  Dana,  18  years,  from  1851  to  1869;  Samuel 
W.  Kent  and  Charles  A.  Lincoln,  each  9  years,  from  1861  to 
1870  ;  L.  B.  Witherby,  8  years,  from  1869  to  1877  ;  the  pres- 
ent deacons  being  Alfred  Holden,  H.  H.  Merriam,  Wm.  Finlay 
and  Geo.  M.  Pierce. 

The  two  first  deacons  served  the  longest,  and  Jacob  Cham- 
berlain comes  next,  himself  and  son  John,  occupying  tlie  posi- 
tion sixty  one  years,  and  Nathan  and  Moses  Perry,  fifty-seven. 
Deacon  Miles  had  previously  officiated  in  the  same  capacity 
over  the  old  church  in  Shrewsbury  some  twenty  years.  Thom- 
as Wheeler  was  deacon  for  thirty-three  years. 

Dea.  John  Chamberlain,  who  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Capt.  John  Curtis,  (see  page  36,)  was  father  of  Hon.  John 
Curtis  Chamberlain,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Charlestown, 
N.  H.,  and  member  of  Congress  from  thut  State;  and  grand- 
father of  Gen.  Robert  H.  Chamberlain  of  Worcester.  Dea.  John 


126  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Nelson  was  father   of   Rev   Dr.   Nelson,   ])astor  of  tlie  old  Con- 
gregational Cluircli  in  Leicester  for  over  fifty  years. 

The  Clerks. 
The  Clerks  of  the  First  Cliurch  during  the  last  tlirec  quai- 
ters  of  a  century  have  been  :  Dea.  John  Bixby  to  1819  ;  Hcn- 
Wheeler  thirteen  years  to  1832  ;  George  M.  Rice  six  years  to 
1838;  Wm.  Greenleaf  eight  years  to  1846;  Dea.  Caleb  Dana 
twenty-two  years  to  1868  ;  Dea.  L.  B.  Witlierby  six  years  to 
1874  ;  C.  B.  R.  llazletine  three  years  to  1877  ;  the  present 
clerk  being  A.  R.  Marshall,  chosen  Jan.  17. 

The  Music. 

The  music  in  this  church  for  many  years  has  been  an  inter- 
esting feature  of  the  services,  being  exempt  from  the  frequent 
changes  so  common  in  many  churches.  The  conductors,  at 
different  times  within  the  last  50  years,  have  been  the  late  Em- 
ory Perry  and  Edward  Hamilton  ;  and  for  fourteen  years  sub_ 
scquently,  Mr.  Edward  S.  Nason,  the  present  teacher  of  music 
in  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  who  officiated  both  as  organist 
and  conductor  of  a  large  chorus  choir,  Mrs.  Nason  being  lead- 
ing soprano,  and  her  sister.  Miss  H.  A.  Taft,  the  alto.  One  of 
the  lirst  organists  of  this  church  was  Mr.  B.  D.  Allen.  For 
the  last  12  years,  a  quartette  choir  has  led  the  service  of  song, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Munrce,  with  Mrs.  Munroe  as 
leading  soprano.  During  most  of  the  time,  the  organists  have 
been  Messrs.  A.  V.  Hill  of  Lowell,  Howard  E.  Parkhurst  and 
C.  C.  Stearns. 

The  Organ,  one  of  the  largest  church  organs  in  this  city,  and 
the  only  one  having  tiu^ee  manuals,  was  built  by  Appleton  in 
1846,  costing  $3000.  In  1867  and '68  large  improvements  were 
made,  of  additional  stops  and  new  pedals  of  thirty  notes,  at  an 
expense  of  more  than  S600. 


The  Scotch  Presbyterian  Emigrants  of  1718. 
AmoTig  the  earliest  settlers  in  Worcester  was  a  company  of 
Scotch  Presbyterians  from  Londonderry,  in  the  north  part  of 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester  127 

Ireland.  Of  the  one  lumdred  families  that  came  over  in  1718 
to  escape  persecution,  then  rampant,  which  pursued  them  from 
their  original  home  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  across  the  chan- 
nel, to  the  "Emerald  Isle,"  where  they  remained  as  long  as 
they  could,  large  numbers  of  them  settled  in  Worcester,  where 
similar  illiberal  hostility  was  manifested  toward  them  by  our 
Puritanic  ancestors,  who,  although  reverent  worshippers  of  God 
themselves,  could  tolerate  no  form  of  manifesting  that  rever- 
ence except  such  as  was  ordained  by  the  State.  Having  form- 
ed a  religious  society  here,  these  Presbyterians  met  first  in 
the  old  garrison  house  at  tlie  north  end  of  the  town,  where, 
and  in  "God's  first  temple,"  the  open  air,  tliey  enjoyed  for  a 
•time  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  Edward  Fitzgerald  and  Rev. 
Wm.  Johnston.  On  their  attempting  to  build  a  meeting  house, 
which  they  did  on  the  west  side  of  Lincoln  street,  just  north  of 
"The  Oaks,"  they  had  hardly  completed  the  frame  work  of  it 
before  the  prejudices  of  the  other  settlers  obliged  them  to  de- 
sist, a  mob  by  night  demolishing  what  had  been  put  up  during 
the  day,  so  those  who  came  here  to  enjoy  the  freedom  of  "wor- 
shipping God  in  their  own  way,"  were  obliged  to  forego  that  in- 
estimable privilege,  and  accommodate  themselves  to  the  mode 
adopted  by  the  majority  around  them.  Some  of  the  persecuted 
emigrants  left  and  joined  their  friends  in  Pelham,  Mass., 
and  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  but  a  large  party  of  them  remained 
here,  and  became  contributors  to  the  support  of  the  regularly 
established  church,  whose  edifice  was  on  the  Common.  Among 
those  who  thus  remained  after  their  brethren  had  left,  were  the 
following  ancestors  of  numerous  families  of  their  respective 
names  throughout  the  country  : 

James  McClellan,  great-great-great-grandfatlier  of  Gen.  Geo. 
R.  McClellan  ;  Wm.  Caldwell,  grandfather  of  Wm.  Caldwell, 
sheriff  of  the  county  from  1793  to  1805  ;  Andrew  McFarland, 
who  located  about  two  miles  out  on  the  I'oad  to  Tatnuck,  his 
estate  being  still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  descendants  of  the 
sixth  generation,  the  families  of  E.  F.  Chamberlain  and  Willard 
Richmond,  who  married  daughters  of  the  late  Ira  McFarland, 
great-great-grandson  of  the  original  Andrew  McFarland  whose 
descendants   are   numerous  among   us  ;  Robert  Blair,  who  lo- 


128  Reminiscences    of  Worcester. 

catcd  next  west  of  McFarland,  and  whoso  estate  was  in  the 
same  family  for  an  equal  length  of  time,  until  sold  to  the  pres- 
ent owner,  Daniel  Noyes ;  James  Rankin,  whose  beautiful 
daughter  Anna  married  Samuel  Andrews,  father-in-law  of  Col. 
Timothy  Bigelow,  thus  making  this  Scotch  emigrant  great- 
grcat-great  grandfather  of  Ex-Chief  Justice  George  Tyler  Big- 
eloAv  ;  William,  Robert,  Matthew,  John  and  Hugh  Gray,  an- 
cestors probably  of  all  of  that  name  now  in  the  country,  their 
location  here  being  at  first  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  on 
the  north  side  of  Lincoln  street,  between  Burncoat  street  and 
the  Curtis  farm,  afterwards  in  the  south-east  part ;  Robert 
Crawford,  ancestor  of  the  Crawfords  in  this  country,  his  loca- 
tion being  between  Green  Hill  and  Plantation  street ;  Robert 
Barbour  (or  Barber),  ancestor  of  those  of  that  name  here  ; 
John  Young  and  his  son  David,  born  near  Londonderry,  Ire- 
land, who  as  well  as  a  few  other  natives  of  the  north  of  Ireland 
came  over  with  their  Scotch  brethren,  and  introduced  here  the 
first  potatoes  used  in  this  country,  both  living  to  very  advanced 
age  ;  James  Hambleton,  afterwards  spelled  Hamilton  ;  Robert, 
John  and  Patrick  Peables,  or  Peebles  ;  John  Duncan,  some- 
times spelled  Dunkin  ;  Duncan  Graham,  John  Clark,  John 
Battey,  Wm.  Mahan,  Andrew  Farrand,  James  Forbush,  James 
Thornington,  Hugh  Kelso,  James  Ferguson,  Robert  Larthog, 
John  McClentick  (or  ^IcClintock),  John  McKonkey,  James 
Glasford,  James  McGregoire. 

Many  persons  distinguished  in  the  history  of  the  town,  state 
and  country,  are  descendants  of  the  above.  Genealogical 
sketches  of  some  of  these  will  form  subjects  of  future  chapters. 


Worcester  North  and  South  Precincts. 
The  original  territory  of  Worcester,  extending  nearly  twelve 
miles  north  and  south,  and  nearly  six  miles  east  and  west,  was 
too  great  for  its  inhabitants  to  assemble  in  one  place  of  wor- 
ship.' What  had  been  previously  called  AVorcester  North  Pre- 
cinct, was  set  off  as  a  separate  town,  Nov.  3, 1740,  and  a  church 
was  organized  there  the  following  year  with  Rev.  Joseph  Davis 
as  jmbtor.      June  2o,  177B, '' Worcester   South  Precinct"   was 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  129 

constituted  out  of  some  three  miles  in  breadth  of  territory  in 
tlie  south-west  corner  of  Worcester,  including  the  present  Au- 
burn Common,  with  additional  territory  from  the  adjoining 
towns  of  Leicester,  Oxford  and  Sutton  ;  religious  meetings  be- 
gan to  be  held  there  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  at  the  hotel  of 
Major  Thomas  Drury,  (where  now  resides  the  present  pastor  of 
the  church  there.  Rev.  Elnathan  Davis,)  and  the  erection  of 
the  present  meeting  house  on  Auburn  Common  was  soon  after 
begun,  which  was  completed  in  1776,  in  season  to  have  the  de- 
claration of  independence  read  within  its  walls  on  the  first 
Sunday  after  it  had  been  received  in  Massachusetts.  The 
church  there  was  organized  Jan.  26,  1776,  and  "  Worcester 
South  Precinct  "  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  April  10, 
1778,  under  the  name  of  Ward,  changed  to  Auburn  in  1837. 
The  first  pastor  at  the  latter  place  was  Rev.  Isaac  Bailey,  suc- 
ceeded from  1813  to  1828  by  Rev.  Enoch  Pond,  D.  D.,  now  of 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  in  his  87tli  year.  The  modera- 
tor of  the  first  legal  meeting  held  to  organize  the  south  precinct, 
Aug.  17,  1773,  was  David  Bancroft;  precinct  clerk,  Jacob 
Stevens ;  assessors  and  committee  first  chosen  to  provide  for 
preaching,  and  see  to  the  building  of  a  meeting  house.  Com- 
fort Rice,  Jonathan  Stone,  Alexander  Nichols,  Benjamin  Car- 
ter, Andrew  and  John  Crowl,  Thomas  Scott,  James  and  John 
Hart,  Thomas  Drury,  Peter  Hardy,  Wm.  Phipps. 

At  the  first  legal  meeting  in  Worcester  North  Precinct,  after 
it  was  set  off  as  Holden,  which  was  held  May  4,  1741,  Lieut. 
Simon  Davis,  father  of  the  first  minister  there.  Rev.  Joseph 
Davis,  was  chosen  moderator ;  Simon  Davis,  John  Bigclow  and 
Cyprian  Davis,  selectmen  ;  Jonathan  Lovell,  great-grandfather 
of  the  present  Joseph,  Amariah  B.,  John  D.,  and  E.  H.  Lovell 
of  Worcester,  was  chosen  constable  for  the  east  end,  and  James 
Smith  constable  of  the  west  end  of  the  newly  organized  town  ; 
James  Clark,  James  Palree  and  Samuel  Hay  ward,  assessors ; 
William  Nichols,  Treasurer  ;  Abraham  Newton,  tythingman  ; 
James  Gray,  Jotham  Bigelow  and  David  Brown,  fence  viewers  ; 
Jotham  Bigelow,  clerk  of  the  market;  Jas.  Gray,  Sam'l  Bruso, 
hog  reefs  ;  Jos.  Wooley,  Abraham  Newton,  field  drivers  ;  Samuel 
Hayward,  seal  3r  of  leather ;  James  Caldwell  and  John  Child, 
17 


130 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 


deer  reefs  ;  John  Bigelow  and   Joseph  Hubbard,  surveyors  of 
highways  ;  Shiion  Davis,  grand  juryman. 

These  names  are  given  to  indicate  who  were  the  prominent 
residents  of  the  North  and  South  precincts  of  Worcester,  be- 
fore any  of  its  original  territory  of  eight  miles  square  had  been 
set  off.  The  John  and  Jotham  Bigelow  mentioned  were  un- 
doubtedly sons  of  the  Joshua  Bigelow  of  Worcester,  afterwards 
of  Westminister,  alluded  to  on  page  48. 


2d  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Church,  1851. 
(The  present  edifice  on  Court  Hill.) 


CHAPTER    IX. 

The    Second  Parish  (First  Unitarian)  Church. 

Until  1785,  there  existed  but  one  organized  religious  society 
in  Worcester,  the  population,  numbering  at  the  latter  date 
about  two  thousand,  having  for  thirty-seven  years  enjoyed  the 
ministrations  of  the  same  clergyman.  During  the  last  illness 
and  for  a  few  months  after  the  decease  of  Rev.  Thaddeus  Mae- 
carty,  July  20,  1784,  the  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  son  of  Det^. 
Samuel  Bancroft  of  Reading,  who  graduated  at  Harvard, in 
1778,  amid  the  din  ot  arms  of  the  revolutionary  strife,  supplied 
the  pulpit  of  the  old  South  Church,  but  owing  to  differences  of 
sentiment  on  certain  points  of  doctrine,  his  preaching  was  not 
acceptable  to  a  majority  of  the  congregation,  and  a  large  min- 
ority of  Unitarian  views,  comprising  many  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  intelligent  members,  seceded  and  formed  a  new  church 
and  society,  which  began  holding  meetings  the  last  Sun- 
day in  March,  1785,  and  they  ordained  and  installed  Dr. 
l>ancroft  as  their  pastor.  Their  meetings  were  for  seven  years 
held  in  the  Court  House  (now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  George 
A.  Trumbull  on  Trumbull  Square,)  until  January  1,  1792, 
when  their  first  house  of  worship  was  dedicated,  situated  just 
south  of  the  old  Antiquarian  Hall  on  Summer  street,  the  old 
building  having  been  for  thirty  years  past  occupied  as  a  public 
school  house.  Rev.  Zabdiel  Adams  of  Lunenburg  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  At  the  ordination  of  Dr.  Bancroft,  Feb.  1, 
1786,  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard  of  tlie 
North  Church  in  Salem,  the  charge  to  the  pastor  given  by  Rev. 
Timothy  Harrington  of  Lancaster,  the  righthand  of  fellowship 
presented  by  Rev.  Zabdiel  Adams  of  Lunenburg,  the  conclud- 
ing prayer  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  John  Lothrop  of  Boston,  and 
benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Timothy  Hilliard  of  Cam- 


132  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

bridge.  As  this  was  the  first  instance  in  this  Commonwealth 
of  a  voluntary  association  for  religious  worship  unsanctioned 
by  the  authority  of  government,  it  was  considered  a  bold  in- 
novation on  the  usages  of  the  past,  inasmuch,  also,  as  until  that 
period,  all  the  inland  parishes  in  Massachusetts  had  been  de- 
signated by  geographical  boundaries.  Consequently,  great  dif- 
ficulty was  experienced  in  getting  churches  to  assist  in  the  in- 
stallation solemnities,  two  churches  only  in  Worcester  County, 
at  that  time,  (tliose  in  Lancaster  and  Lunenburg)  being  known 
to  favor  this  liberal  movement.  At  its  first  organization  the 
new  society  consisted  of  sixty-tliree  members,  the  church  coven- 
ant being  subscribed  by  twenty  persons. 

Constitution  of  the   Church.- 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  Court  House,  Dec.  1,  1785,  the 
pastor-elect,  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  preached,  ttie  religious  cove- 
nant was  read,  and  the  following  persons  subscribed  their 
names  thereto,  and  tliis  was  the  formation  of  the  Second 
Ciiurch  in  AVorcester  :  Timothy  Paine,  Benjamin  Flagg,  Josiah 
Pierce,  David  Bigelow,  Joseph  Allen,  Ephraim  Mower,  John 
Mower,  Ignatius  Goulding,  Sarah  Paine,  (wife  of  Timothy 
Paine,)  Thankful  Mower,  (wife  of  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower,) 
Sarah  Pierce,  (wife  of  Josiah  Pierce,)  Abigail  Flagg,  (wife  of 
Benj.  Flagg,)  Elizabetli  Willard,  Dorotliy  Allen,  (wnfe  of  Joseph 
Allen,)  Lydia  Baldwin,  Susanna  Fowle,  Mary  Sever,  (wife  of 
Wm.  Sever,  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Lincoln,)  Sarah  Paine, 
Jr.,  (daughter  of  Timothy  Paine,)  and  Lucretia  Chandler,  (af- 
terwards wife  of  the  pastor,  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Davis.) 
At  subsequent  church  meetings,  the  number  of  members  rapid- 
ly increased.  The  only  religious  test  or  creed  embraced  in  the 
covenant  subscribed  to,  which  was  drawn  up  by  the  pastor-elect, 
required  the  members  to  "  walk  together  as  a  Christian  society 
in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  gospel,  as  true  disciples  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  all  good  carriage  and  behavior  both  towards  God  and 
towards  man,  in  charity  with  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth, -taking  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  our 
sole  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  relying  on  the 
mediation  of  Christ  for  the  pardon  of  our  manifold  sins." 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  133 

Among  tliG  earliest  to  add  their  names  to  the  above  list,  were 
Mary  and  Elizabeth  Maccarty,  daughters  of  the  old  south  min- 
ister, and  their  brother  Nathaniel  was  a  member  of  the  society. 
The  new  society  was  organized  at  their  first  public  meeting  for 
religious  services,  the  last  Sunday  iu  March,  1785,  when  Dr. 
Bancroft  received  his  formal  invitation  to  settle,  although  the 
church  was  not  constituted  till  December  following. 

Outside  of  the  signers  of  the  church  covenant,  among  those 
most  influential  in  the  formation  of  the  new  society  were  the 
senior  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Judge  Edward  Bangs,  Col.  Timothy 
Bigelow  and  Isaiah  Thomas. 

A  severe  struggle  was  maintained  with  the  powers  of  both 
church  and  state  before  the  new  church  and  society  were  legal- 
ly recognized,  but  an  act  of  incorporation  was  finally  obtained 
from  the  Legislature,  Nov.  13,  1787,  giving  them  the  right  of  a 
separate  parish  existence. 

Parish   Meetings. 

The  first  legally  called  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  sec- 
ond parish,  for  the  choice  of  parish  officers,  was  held  March  9, 
1789,  in  pursuance  of  a  warrant,  issued  by  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln, 
senior,  to  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower,  as  one  of  the  principal  mem- 
bers of  the  parish. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  chosen  moderator,  and  parish  officers  for 
the  year  ensuing  were  elected  as  follows  :  Hon.  Joseph  Allen, 
clerk ;  Capt.  John  Pierce,  Hon.  Timothy  Paine  and  Hon. 
Edward  Bangs,  assessors  ;  Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  treasurer ; 
Ephraim  Mower,  collector  ;  and  David  Bigelow,  Lieut.  Josiah 
Pierce,  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg,  Col.  Samuel  Flagg,  and  Cornelius 
Stowell,  prudential  committee.  The  meeting  then  adjourned 
to  March  23,  1789,  to  consider  a  proposition  from  Dr.  Ban- 
croft to  relinquish  one-third  of  his  annual  salary  of  $500  to 
equalize  the  expense  of  the  erection  of  a  meeting-house.  At 
the  latter  meeting,  plans  for  the  house  were  considered,  one 
reported  by  the  committee  adopted,  and  Capt.  John  Pierce, 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine,  and  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  procure  the  frame  for  the  meeting-house,  and 
make  all  necessary  contracts   for  the   building   of  the   same, 


134  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

agreeably  to  the  plan  accepted.  At  the  same  meeting,  Hon. 
Timothy  Paine,  Samuel  Eraser,  Capt.  Joel  Howe,  Col.  Benj. 
Flagg  and  Capt.  John  Pierce  were  chosen  a  committee  to  in- 
quire on  wliat  terms  the  most  convenient  spot  may  be  had  whereon 
to  erect  the  meeting  house,  and  report  at  the  adjourned  meet- 
ing held  April  20,  following.  At  the  latter  meeting,  several 
locations,  reported  by  this  committee,  were  considered,  and  the 
meeting  adjourned  to  May  25,  and  again  to  June  1,1789,  when 
it  was  voted  to  have  the  location  for  the  meeting  house  "  be- 
tween the  dwelling  house  of  Hon.  Joseph  Allen  and  that  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  near  the  great  road."  Joseph  xVllen  then 
lived  on  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  School  streets,  where 
David  Curtis,  the  blacksmith,  afterwards  resided,  and  Samuel 
Bridge  lived  on  the  east  side  of  Lincoln  street,  in  the  old  dwell- 
ing, afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Ebenezer  S.  Geer,  be- 
hind two  venerable  elm  trees.  At  the  same  meeting,  Hon. 
Levi  Lincoln,  Dea.  David  Bigelow,  Micah  Johnson,  Col.  Benj. 
Flagg  and  Capt.  Samuel  Bridge  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
"  finally  determine  where  to  build,  provided  it  be  within  the 
limits  mentioned."  The  spot  they  selected,  (just  south  of  the 
old  Antiquarian  Hall,  built  in  1820,)  was  about  half  way  be- 
tween those  limits. 

At  the  second  annual  parish  meeting  held  April  30,  1790, 
Dea.  David  Bigelow  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  the  following 
parish  officers  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing  :  Hon.  Joseph  Al- 
len, clerk  ;  Hon.  Timothy  Paine,  Joseph  Allen  and  Capt.  John 
Pierce,  assessors  ;  Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  treasurer  ;  Dr.  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  collector  ;  the  assessors  to  be  the  prudential 
cjmmittee. 

At  a  meeting  held  Feb.  4,  1791,  Dea.  David  Bigelow,  mod- 
erator, Hon.  Edward  Bangs,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  and  William 
Sever,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  take  a  deed  of  the 
land  selected  for  the  church,  and  it  was  voted  that  pew.  No.  51, 
adjoining  the  pulpit  stairs,  be  for  the  use  of  the  minister  ;  and 
that  the  pews  on  the  lower  floor  be  granted  to  the  persons  de- 
signated by  their  respective  numbers,  each  pew  holder  to  pay 
twenty-four  shillings  annually  from  April  1,  1790. 

At  the  third  annual  parish  meeting  held  April  29,  1791, 
Hon.  Timothy  Paine,  moderator,  and   Dr.   Abraham   Lincoln, 


2d  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Cliurch,  1792. 
(Now  the  Summer  St.  School-house.) 


2d  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Church,  1829. 
(Occupied  the  site  of  the  present  one,  and  burned  in  Aug.  1849.) 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  135 

clerk,  Timothy  Paine,  Edward  Bangs  and  David  Bigclow 
were  chosen  assessors  for  the  year  ensuing ;  Dea.  Samuel 
Bridge,  treasurer  ;  Samuel  Allen,  collector  ;  and  David  Bigc- 
low, Josiali  Pierce  and  Samuel  Braser  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  make  conveyarices  of  the  pews  in  the  meeting-house  then 
nearly  completed. 

The  first  parish  meeting  held  in  the  meeting  house,  was 
Sept.  15,  1791.  Sept.  19,  Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  Maj.  Wm. 
Treadwell,  and  Isaiah  Thomas  were  chosen  a  committee  to  con- 
tract for  the  building  of  a  cupola  and  vane  on  the  structure. 

The  First  Meeting  House. 

This  first  meeting  house  of  the  second  parish  or  First  Unit- 
arian Society,  which  began  to  be  regularly  used  for  religious 
worship  with  the  first  Sunday  in  1792,  was  a  plain  wooden 
structure,  60  feet  by  50,  having  the  same  general  outside  ap- 
pearance as  the  old  building,  excepting  the  tower  which  was  re- 
moved, presents  now.  It  was  built  by  Ignatius  Goulding  and 
Elias  Mann,  according  to  plans  by  the  latter,  and  had  a  bell 
and  tower  clock,  which  were  afterwards  used  on  the  next 
church  built  in  1829.  The  clock  was  the  gift  of  Isaiah 
Thomas.  The  old  structure  had  sixty-one  box  pews  on  the 
floor,  and  there  were  galleries  on  three  sides. 

The  main  or  central  aisle  led  from  the  front  entrance  to  a 
tier  of  pews  on  each  side,  numbered  from  one  to  twenty-five  or 
thirty,  even  numbers  on  the  norm  side,  and  the  odd  numbers 
on  the  south  side  of  this  aisle.  The  south  aisle,  parallel  with 
the  latter,  led  to  a  tier  of  pews  on  the  south  wall,  and  the  north 
aisle  led  to  a  corresponding  tier  of  pews  on  the  north  wall.  A 
cross  aisle  also  led  to  pew^s  on  each  side  of  the  high  pulpit. 

As  put  on  record  by  the  committee  selected  for  the  purpose, 
the  pews  on  the  lower  floor  were  conveyed  to  the  following  par- 
ties, at  the  opening  of  the  house,  the  same  sum  of  24  shillings 
annually  being  paid  for  each  pew  : 

The  First  Pew  Owners. 

No.  1,  Palmer  Goulding;  2,  James  Goulding;  3,  Benjamin 
Flagg  ;  4,  Daniel   Chadwick  and   Abnor    Child  ;  5,  Benjamin 


136  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Butman  ;  6,  Aaron  Bancroft,  pastor  ;  7,  Eli  Gale  and  Hugh 
Kelso ;  8,  Nathaniel  Paine ;  9,  Timothy  Paine  ;  10,  Samuel 
Bridge;  11,  Isaiah  Thomas  ;  12,  William  Sever;  13,  Ignatius 
Goulding;  14,  Levi  Lincoln,  senior  ;  15,  Nathan  Heard;  16, 
John  Stanton  ;  17,  Wm.  Chandler  ;  18,  Joseph  Allen  ;  19,  Levi 
Lincoln  ;  20,  Charles  and  Samuel  Chandler  ;  21  and  22,  Isaiah 
Thomas;  23,  Judge  Edward  Bangs;  21,  Timothy  Paine;  25, 
Isaiah  Thomas  ;  26,  John  Pierce  ;  27,  Daniel  Hcywood  ;  28, 
Thomas  Chandler  ;  29,  Isaac  Chadwick  ;  30,  John  Walker  ;  31, 
Isaiah  Thomas;  32,  Wm.  Mahan ;  33,  Samuel  Rice;  34,  Eph- 
raim  Mower;  35,  Daniel  Clapp ;  36,  Dr.  John  Green;  37, 
Micali  Johnson  ;  38,  David  Chadwick  ;  39,  Samuel  Allen, 
senior;  40,  Clark  Chandler;  41,  Nathaniel  Paine;  42,  Elias 
Mann  ;  43,  Edward  Bangs  ;  44,  Joel  Howe  ;  45,  Nathan  Patch  ; 
46,  C.  and  S.  Chandler  ;  47,  Levi  Lincoln  ;  48,  Dr.  Abraham 
Lincoln  ;  49  and  50,  Isaiah  Thomas  ;  52,  C.  and  S.  Chandler  ; 
53,  Nathan  Blackman ;  54,  Ignatius  Goulding ;  55,  Isaiah 
Thomas  ;  bQ,  Joseph  Allen ;  57,  C.  and  S.  Chandler  ;  58, 
Joseph  Allen  ;  59,  Levi  Lincoln  ;  60  and  61,  Isaiah  Thomas. 

As  many  of  the  persons  above  named  took  each  several  pews, 
the  numbers  against  their  names  would  not  be  a  true  index  of 
their  respective  seats,  but  it  is  known  that  Judge  Edward  Bangs, 
Isaiah  Thomas,  the  senior  Gov.  Lincoln,  Daniel  Waldo,  Senior^ 
Stephen  Salisbury,  senior,  and  Timothy  and  Dr.  Wm.  Paine,  oc- 
cupied pews  on  the  south  side  of  the  broad  or  main  aisle,  in 
the  order  named,  and  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  Judge  Nathaniel 
Paine,  Capt.  John  Stanton,  Capt.  John  and  Lewis  Barnard,  and 
Major  Jedediah  Healey  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  central 
aisle.  Samuel  Allen,  senior,  Samuel  Braser,  Lemuel  Rice  and 
Nathan  Heard  had  wall  pews  on  the  south  aisle,  and  Dr.  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  Dr.  John- Green,  senior,  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower, 
Elias  Mann  and  John  Walker  had  pews  on  the  north  aisle. 
Dea.  Wm.  Trowbridge's  pew  was  next  to  the  stairs  on  the  north 
side  of  the  pulpit,  and  Benjamin  Thaxter's  the  second  from  the 
pulpit  on  the  south  side.  The  first  deacons,  Samuel  Bridge, 
David  Bigelow  and  Nathan  Heard,  had  seats  specially  provided 
for  the  deacons  directly  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  On  the  broad 
stair  at  the  right  of  the  pulpit,  sat  a  Hessian,  dressed  in  minis- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester  137 

terial  attire,  named  Michael  Heinrich  Braatz,  one  of  the  earliest 
members  of  the  church,  who  waited  upon  the  pastor  when  oc- 
casion required.  A  comparison  of  the  names  of  tliese  pew- 
owners  with  those  previously  connected  with  the  first  parish 
church,  as  seen  on  pages  116  and  117,  and  the  accompanying 
plan  certified  to  by  the  then  Town  Clerk,  Judge  John  Chandler, 
indicates  how  largo  a  proportion  of  the  prominent  members  of 
the  old  church  seceded  to  form  the  second  parish. 

The  Second  Meeting  House. 

The  old  structure  well  answered  its  purpose  for  thirty-seven 
years,  until  1828,  when  a  new  and  more  commodious  house 
was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  one.  The  first  movement 
in  this  direction  was  at  a  parish  meeting  held  Nov.  27,  1827, 
Dea.  Benjamin  Butman,  moderator,  wdien  it  was  voted  "ex- 
pedient to  contract  for  a  new  and  more  commodious  house  of 
worship,  on  a  new  lot  on  Main  street,  between  the  Court  House 
on  the  north  and  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Maccarty  [where  Brin- 
ley  Block  now  stands]  on  the  south,  the  outside  walls  to  be  of 
brick,  the  whole  cost  to  be  not  over  $15,000  ;"  and  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  this  vote  into 
effect,  by  contracting  for  the  erection  of  the  new  structure,  and 
superintending  its  construction  :  Frederick  Wm.  Paine,  George 
T.  Rice,  Capt.  Lewis  Barnard,  senior,  Dea.  Alpheus  Merrifield, 
Maj.  Rejoice  Newton,  Col.  Pliny  Merrick  and  Col.  Samuel 
Ward. 

The  committee  purchased  for  this  purpose  a  lot  of  land  of 
Isaiah  Thomas  for  14,000,  where  the  present  church  stands,  on 
which  then  stood  the  dwelling  house  now  in  the  rear  of  it, 
where  Dea.  John  P.  Kettell  and  Calvin  Foster,  senior,  had 
previously  resided.  The  dwelling  house  was  removed  back, 
ground  immediately  broken  for  the  foundation  of  the  new 
structure,  and  the  corner  stone  was  laid  Aug.  11,  1828,  when 
'an  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill,  and  religious  ex- 
ercises were  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft. 

At  a  parish  meeting  held  June  29,  1829,  Col.  Pliny  Merrick, 
moderator,  the  committee  chosen  at  a  former  meeting,  consisting 
of  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Dea.  Benj.  Butman,  Samuel  M.  Burnside, 
18 


138  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Hon.  Charles  Allen  and  Wm.  Eaton,  to  consider  what  was  nec- 
essary to  be  done  for  the  opening  of  the  new  honse,  made  their 
report,  stciting  that  it  would  be  ready  for  occupancy  about 
Aug.  20,  1829,  and  on  their  recommendation,  Hon.  John  Da- 
vis, Walter  Bigelow,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Lewis  l^arnard,  Wm. 
Eaton,  Benjamin  Butman  and  John  P.  Kettell  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  make  appraisals  of  the  pews,  and  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  dedicatory  exercises,  in  conjunction  with  the 
senior  and  junior  pastors. 

This  building  was  G8  feet  front  by  To  feet  deep,  and  the  walls 
81  feet  high,  surmounted  with  a  cupola  and  tower  125  feet 
from  the  ground.  There  were  galleries  on  three  sides,  and  the 
floor  was  divided  into  104  pews,  arranged  somewhat  similar  to 
the  former  house,  with  the  exception  that  there  was  an  addi- 
tional tier  of  pews  from  both  the  north  and  south  aisles,  making 
six  tiers  of  pews  entered  from  the  middle,  north  and  south 
aisles,  and  there  were  eight  pews  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit  en- 
tered from  the  aisle  running  north  and  south  in  front  of  the 
pulpit.  The  highest  appraised  value  of  any  pews  was  i300 
each,  and  the  lowest  -ISO,  the  highest  premium  paid  for  any 
pew  being  ^54:.  The  amount  raised  from  the  sale  of  all  of  them, 
was  $16,000,  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  building  of  the  church, 
and  the  land.  Of  this  sum,  86330  was  raised  from  the  sale  of 
the  twenty-seven  middle  or  broad  aisle  pews.  , 

The  contractors  and  builders  of  the  church  Avere  Elias  Car- 
ter, carpenter,  and  Col.  Peter  Kendall,  mason.  At  the  dedica- 
tion, Aug.  20,  1829,  the  exercises^  beginning  at  11  o'clock  A. 
M.,  were  as  follows:  Introductory  prayer  by  Rev.  Joseph  Al- 
len, D.  D.,  of  Northborough ;  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev. 
Alonzo  Hill,  colleague  pastor;  sermon  by  the  senior  pas- 
tor. Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.  D. ;  singing  of  a  hymn,  written 
for  tlie  occasion  by  the  senior  pastor;  concluding  prayer  by 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  D.  D.,  of  Lancaster.  The  music,  in- 
cluding anthems  at  the  opening  and  close,  was  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Emory  Perry.  Of  the  sixty-three  original  members  of 
the  society,  only  eight  were  living  at  the  time  of  the  dedication 
of  this  second  meeting  house. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  139 

This  edifice  was  unfortunately  burned  on  the  night  of  Friday, 
Aug.  24.  1849,  but  most  of  the  organ,  pulpit  and  furniture  were 
saved,  having  been  removed,  as  the  building  was  undergoing  re- 
pairs. 

At  an  informal  parish  meeting  held  in  Brinley  Hall,  Aug.  27, 
following  the  fire,  to  take  action  concerning  the  matter.  Gov. 
Levi  Lincoln  was  chosen  moderator,  and  a  committee  consisting 
of  the  following  fifteen  gentlemen,  was  appointed  to  take  the 
subject  under  consideration,  and  report  at  a  legal  meeting 
what  course  to  pursue  to  replace  the  structure  burned  :  Hon. 
Levi  Lincoln,  Hon.  Cliarles  Allen,  Elbridge  Boyden,  Wm.  M. 
Bickford,  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  Stephen  Salisbury,  Jas.  Shepherd, 
John  P.  Kettell,  Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  Geo.  T.  Rice,  Walter 
Bigelow,  Jr.,  John  W.  Lincoln,  Silas  Dinsmore,  Fitzroy  Wil- 
lard,  Danforth  B.  Comins. 

Several  of  the  other  churches  offered  the  use  of  titeir  respec- 
tive houses  of  worship,  but  Brinley  Hall  was  hired  for  a  while, 
and  then  Flagg's  Hall  was  used  until  the  new  house  was  built, 
the  scats  in  which  wore  arranged  as  near  as  possible  to  the  posi- 
tions occupied  in  the  meeting  house,  by  a  committee  chosen  for 
the  purpose,  consisting  of  John  P.  Kettell,  Charles  A.  Hamil- 
ton, Geo.  W.  Wheeler,  George  B.  Coleman,  and  Walter  Bige- 
low, Jr. 

The  Third  and  Present  House  of  WoRSHir. 

At  a  parish  meeting  held  Nov.  9,  1849,  the  committee  of  fif- 
teen formerly  appointed,  made  their  report,  recommending  the 
erection  of  a  new  structure,  according  to  plans  of  Sidney  M. 
Stone,  architect,  of  New  Haven,  which  with  some  modification 
was  adopted,  and  the  structure,  (the  present  elegant  and  capa- 
cious, one  of  that  society,)  was  erected  under  the  direction  of 
the  following  fifteen  gentlemen  as  building  committee:  Ex- 
Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  chairman  ;  Judge  Charles  Allen,  Judge 
Thomas  Kinnicutt,  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  George  T.  Rice, 
James  Shepherd,  Jolin  P.  Kettell,  Charles  W.  Hartshorn, 
Francis  H.  Kinnicutt,  Walter  Bigelow,  J\\,  Wm.  A.  AVheeler, 
Fitzroy  Willard,  Alphcus  ^lerrifield,  John  Hammond,  and  Re- 
joice Newton.  Of  the  above  fifteen  gentlemen,  four  only  now 
survive,  after  a  lapse  of  a  little  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


140  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  new  edifice,  of  chaste  and  beautiful  Corinthian  design  in 
its  architecture,  is  of  brick,  covered  with  mastic  representing 
squares,  and  cost  a  little  over  -$^25,000,  which  sum  was  raised 
by  the  sale  of  pews  at  tlie  opening.  Of  this  expenditure,  8426 
w^as  for  the  bell  weighing  2908  pounds,  made  by  Holbrook  & 
Ware  of  Medway,  in  addition  to  the  f  348  allowed  for  the  old  met- 
al in  the  bell  burned  ;  and  '^825  for  repairing  the  organ  which 
originally  cost  '$2000.  The  building  is  about  95  feet  front  by 
100  feet  deep,  exclusive  of  the  43  feet  added  the  following  year 
to  the  rear,  for  a  vestry,  <fec.  The  principal  builder  was  Joel 
Wilder,  mason. 

At  the  annual  parish  meeting  held  March  IT,  1851,  Judge 
Thomas  Kinnicutt,  moderator,  it  vvas  voted  to  divide  the  <B8000 
received  from  the  insurance  on  the  house  burned,  between  the 
parish  and  the  holders  of  pews  in  the  former  house,  82447  of  it 
to  be  retained  by  the  parish,  and  the  remainder  to  the  pewhold- 
ers  in  proportion  to  the  prices  paid.  A  committee  consisting 
of  the  following  seven  gentlemen  were  chosen  to  appraise  the 
pews  in  the  new  house :  Ex-Gov.  John  Davis,  George  T.  Rice, 
Wm.  M.  Bickford,  Albert  Brown,  John  Hammond,  Silas  Dins- 
more,  and  D.  B.  Comins.  Of  the  aggregate  of  $25,100  raised, 
$10,470  was  from  the  thirty-six  pews  opening  into  the  center 
aisle  ;  86,290  from  the  thirty-six  adjoining  pews  opening  into 
the  side  aisles  ;  84,570  from  the  thirty-six  pews  opening  from 
the  north  and  south  walls  into  the  north  and  south  aides ; 
81,420  from  the  ten  pews  on  the  west  end  ;  and  82,350  from 
the  forty  pews  in  the  gallery.  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  George 
T.  Rice,  and  Dea.  Alpheus  Merriucld  were  chosen  the  commit- 
tee to  make  sale  of  the  pews,  the  day  following  the  dedication. 

The  new  house  was  dedicated  March  26,  1851,  with  the  fol- 
lowing  exercises:  Introductory  prayer  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Wilson, 
then  of  Grafton,  now  of  Salem  ;  reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rev. 
Hasbrouck  Davis,  son  of  Gov.  John  Davis,  now  deceased  ;  hymn, 
composed  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Sears,  D.  D.,  of  Way- 
land,  formerly  of  Lancaster,  now  deceased;  dedicatory  prayer 
by  Rev.  Edward  E.  Hale,  then  of  the  Church  of  the  Unity, 
Worcester ;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  Samuel  Clarke  of  Ux- 
bridge  ;  hymn,  composed  by  Rev.  John  Pierpont  of  Medford  ; 
benediction  by  the  latter. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  141 

The  musical  exercises  on  the  occasion  were  under  the  direc- 
tion of  S,  R.  Leland. 

The  vestry  addition,  or  chapel,  was  dedicated  Dec.  12, 1852. 

The  First  Pastor. 

The  first  pastor,  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.  D.,  wlio  officiated 
for  nearly  fifty-four  years,  until  his  decease,  Aug.  19,  1839, 
aged  nearly  84,  was  sole  pastor  for  forty-three  years,  until  .the 
ordination  of  his  colleague.  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill,  in  1827.  Dr. 
Bancroft  was  a  man  of  remarkable  character  for  ability  and  in- 
fluence, and  left  the  impress  of  his  strong  mind  upon  the  age 
in  which  he  lived,  as  well  as  upon  the  community  in  which  he 
so  long  resided,  as  a  theologian,  scholar,  and  preacher  of  liber- 
al views,  at  the  outset  of  the  great  controversy  between  Ortho- 
dox and  Unitarians,  being  himself  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  the  latter.  Tlie  next  year  after  he  was  settled  here,  lie  was 
married,  Oct.  24,  1786,  to  a  member  of  his  churcli,  Lucretia 
Chandler,  daughter  of  the  last  Judge  John  and  Dorothy  (Paine) 
Chandler,  the  nuptial  ceremonies  being  performed  by  a  distin- 
guished member  of  his  church,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen.  They  had 
thirteen  children  : 

1.  Henry  Bancroft,  born  Oct.  8,  1787,  died  Oct.  26,  1817, 
was  an  East  India  sea  captain,  and  as  sailing  master  comm.and- 
ed  one  of  Commodore  McDonough's  ships  when  lie  gained  the 
victory,  Sept.  3,  1814,  on  Lake  Champlain  ;  2.  John  Chandler 
Bancroft,  born  June  27,  1789,  was  also  an  East  India  sea  cap- 
tain, and  died  at  sea  in  1821 ;  3.  Eliza  Bancroft,  born  Feb.  17, 
1791,  died  Jan.  24,  1872,  married  Marcli  28,  1822,  Hon.  John 
Davis,  for  thirty  years  in  public  life  as  Repr<3sentative  in  Con- 
gress, Governor  and  U.  S.  Senator,  from  1824  to  the  year  be- 
fore his  death,  April  19,  1854,  their  five  sons  being  Hon.  John 
C.  B.  Davis,  assistant  Secretary  of  State  and  U.  S.  Commis- 
sioner at  Geneva, — Gen.  Hasbrouck  Davis  who  distinguished 
himself  in  the  late  war,  and  was  wrecked  in  the  "  Cambria," 
Oct.  10,  1870, — George  IL,  Horace  and  Andrew  McFarland 
Davis;  4.  Mary  Bancroft,  born  June  1,  1733,  died  Oct.  11, 
1844;  5.  Caroline  Bancroft,  born  Apr.i  i!"],  171'5  ;  6.  Thomas 
Chandler,  born  1796,   lived  in  Paxton  ;   I.  Jane  Putnam  Ban- 


142  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

croft,  born  Nov.  12,  1798,  married  Oct.  2,  1828,  Donati  Gher- 
ardi  of  Northampton,  and  had  five  cliildren  ;  8.  Hon.  George 
Bancroft,  the  distinguished  historian,  born  Oct.  3,  1800,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  in  1817,  studied  in  Germany,  and  traveled 
extensively  in  Europe,  has  been  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  minis- 
ter to  England,  Prussia,  &c.,  married  first  Sarah  Dwight,  and 
second,  Betsey  Davis,  widow  of  Alexander  Bliss,  law  partner  of 
Daniel  Webster,  and  has  had  five  children,  one  of  Avhom, 
Aaron  Bancroft,  was  lieutenant  and  master  in  the  United  States 
Ship  Niagara  at  the  laying  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Cable  in 
1858  ;  9.  Lucretia  Bancroft,  now  tlie  only  surviving  daughter, 
born  May  19,  1803,  married,  1852,  Welcome  Farnum,  an  exten- 
sive manufacturer,  at  Blackstone,  Mass. ;  10.  Charles  Bancroft, 
born  Feb.  18,  1805,  died  Dec.  23,1838;  11.  Sarah  Bancroft, 
married,  Jan.  21,  1836,  Hon.  John  R.  Blake  of  Brattleboro, 
Vt. ;  12.  Dorothy,  died  young  ;  13.  Anne  Bancroft,  born  Oct. 
31,  1809,  married  Dr.  Charles  Ingalls,  professor  in  Jackson 
College,  Louisiana. 

Besides  his  well  known  work,  "  Life  of  Washington,"  and  a 
volume  of  twenty-nine  doctrinal  discourses.  Dr.  Bancroft  pub- 
lished some  tliirty  six  of  liis  discourses,  orations  and  sermons, 
delivered  on  public  occasions,  including  one  on  the  termination 
of  fifty  years  of  his  ministry,  Jan.  31,  1836. 

Dr.  Bancroft  was  a  member  of  tlie  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Leicester  Academy  for  thirty-one  years,  from  1800  to  1831, 
and  President  of  the  Board  during  the  last  thirteen  years  of 
that  time  ;  President  of  the  Worcester  County  Bible  Society, 
and  of  the  American  Unitarian  Association  from  its  organiza- 
tion in  1825  till  1836  ;  and  of  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  Piety  and  Charity  ;  Vice  President  of 
the  American  Antiquarian  Society  from  1816  to  1836,  and  an 
officer  of  various  other  similar  organizations.  He  received  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  from  Harvard  University  in  1810. 

John  Adams  in  a  letter  dated  Jan.  21,  1823,  expressed  him- 
self as  follows  in  regard  to  a  series  of  doctrinal  discourses,  just 
preached  by  Dr.  Bancroft,  which  had  been  printed,  and  a  copy 
sent  to  the  venerable  Ex-President  at  Quincy,  then  in  his  88tli 
year  :  "  I  thank  you  for  the  gift  of  a  precious  volume.  It  is  a 
chain  of  diamonds  set  in  links  of  «;old.     I  have  never  read,  nor 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  143 

heard  a  volume  of  sermons  better  calculated  and  adapted  to  the 
age  and  country  in  which  it  was  written.  How  different  from 
the  sermons  I  heard  and  read  in  tlie  town  of  Worcester  from 
the  year  1755  to  1758.  Your  twenty-nine  sermons  sent  to  me, 
have  expressed  the  result  of  all  my  reading,  experience  and  re- 
flections, in  a  manner  more  satisfactory  to  me  than  I  could 
have  done  in  the  best  days  of  my  strength." 

Dr.  Bancroft  resided  first  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  the 
family  of  the  late  Hon.  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton  on  Salisbury  street, 
afterwards  in  the  house  now  of  John  B.  Pratt  on  the  same 
street,  and  lastly  and  for  much  the  longest  period  on  the  east- 
erly side  of  Main  street,  between  Thomas  and  Central  streets, 
the  latter  estate  being  now  owned  by  L.  R.  Hudson,  wlio  re- 
modeled the  old  mansion  many  years  ago,  for  stores. 

The  First  Baptisms. 
The  firtt  children  cliristened   were,  Oct.   SO,  1785,  Martha, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Levi  and   Martlia   (Waldo)   Lincoln,  (after- 
wards wife  of  Hon.    L.   M.  Parker   of  Shirley,  and   mother  of 
Mrs.  F.  H.  Kinnicutt  and  Mrs.  Joseph   Mason   of  Worcester,) 
and  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Maj.  William  and  Mary   Treadwell. 
This  being  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  church  and  tlie 
ordination  of  the  pastor,  the  ceremony  was  performed   by  Rev. 
Timothy  Harrington  of  Lancaster.     Among  the  earliest  chris- 
tened by  Dr.  Bancroft  were.  May  21,  1786,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Joseph   and   Dorothy   Allen,  and  Nancy,  daughter  of  Dea. 
Nathan  and  Anna  Heard  ;  and  subsequently  the  following  chil- 
dren of  Hon.  Joseph  Allen  :     Nov.  29,  1789,  Samuel  ;  Dec.  19, 
1790,  William  ;  Feb.  5,  1792,  George  ;  Aug.  11,  1793,  Maria  ; 
Oct.  12,  1794,  Charles,  member  of  Congress,  Judge,  &c. ;  and 
Jan.  20,  1799,  James.     Of  these  we  have  the  happiness  to  have 
one  still  among  is,  the   venerable    Rev.    George    Allen.     Dr. 
Bancroft's  daughter  Eliza,  (wife  of  Gov.  Davis,)  was  christened 
Feb.  20,  1791,  and  her  brother  George  (the  historian)   Oct.  5, 
1800.     Of  the  late  Gov.  Lincoln's  brothers,  Daniel  Waldo  was 
christened  March  10,  1784  ;  John  Waldo,  July  8, 1787  ;  Enoch, 
(afterwards  Governor  of  Maine),  Jan.  4,  1789  ;  William,  the 
historian,  Oct.  4,  1801.     Gen.  Nathan   Heard,    son  of  Dea. 
Nathan    and  Anna  Heard,  was    christened  by  Dr.  Bancroft, 


144  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

March  28,  1790,  and  still  survives  in  his  88th  year,  the  oldest 
male  resident  in  Worcester,  except  one.  George  Curtis,  son 
of  David  and  Susanna  Curtis,  and  father  of  George  William 
Curtis,  was  christened  March  6,  1796. 

The  Second  Pastor. 

The  second  pastor,  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill,  D.  D.,  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  colleague  with  Dr.  Bancroft,  March  28,  1827, 
on  which  occasion  the  exercises  were :  Invocation  and  reading 
of  Scriptures  by  Rev.  Alexander  Young,  D.  D.,  of  Boston  ; 
prayer  by  Rev.  Thaddeus  Mason  Harris,  D.  D.,  of  Dorchester  ; 
sermon  by  Rev.  John  Brazer,  D.  D.,  of  Salem  ;  ordaining  pray- 
er by  Rev.  John  Thornton  Kirkland,  D.  D.,  President  of  Har- 
vard University  ;  charge  to  the  pastor-elect  by  the  senior  pas- 
tor, Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft ;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev. 
George  Ripley,  then  of  Purchase  Street  Church,  Boston,  now 
of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  the  only  surviver  of  those  who 
tcfok  part  in  those  exercises  of  half  a  century  ago  ;  address  to 
the  people  by  Rev.  Natlianiel  Thayer,  D.  D.,  of  Lancaster ; 
concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  Isaac  Allen  of  Bolton. 

Dr.  Plill  was  born  in  Harvard,  June  20,  1800,  son  of  Oliver 
Hill.  He  was  prepared  for  College  at  Groton  Academy,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  University  in  1822,  was  then  tutor  in  Leices- 
ter Academy  till  1824,  and  graduated  for  the  ministry  at  Har- 
vard Theological  School  in  1826. 

In  order  to  accept  of  the  invitation  to  settle  liere,  Dr.  Hill 
declined  similar  invitations  which  he  had  received  from  the 
Unitarian  Societies  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Washington,  D.  C. 
He  officiated  as  sole  pastor,  with  unusual  acceptance,  during 
the  long  term  of  forty-two  years,  and  as  senior  pastor  with  his 
colleague  and  successor.  Rev.  E.  H.  Hall,  two  years  more,  until 
his  decease,  Feb.  1,  1871,  making  forty-four  years  in  all,  which, 
added  to  the  long  pastorate  of  his  predecessor.  Dr.  Bancroft, 
constitutes  the  long  period  of  ninety-eight  years  served  by  both, 
including  the  twelve  years  from  1827  to  1839  during  which 
they  officiated  together  as  senior  and  junior  pastors. 

On  the  last  Sunday,  Feb.  7,  1869,  previous  to  the  installa- 
tion of  his  colleague,  Dr.  Hill  preached  an  interesting  discourse, 
on  the  close  of  his  active  ministerial  labors,  comprising  an 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  145 

earnest  and  feeling  sketch  of  liis  forty-two  years  of  service, 
making  appropriate  allusion  to  the  fact  as  indicative  of  unity, 
that  during  the  eighty-four  years  since  the  formation  of  the 
church,  only  two  pastors  had  been  settled.  Alluding  to  the 
changes  which  had  taken  place  since  his  own  installation,  he 
said  that  of  a  church  of  180  families  in  1827,  he  could  count 
only  seven  men  and  seven  or  eight  women  still  living  in  1869. 

Dr.  Hill  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Harvard  College 
in  1851,  and  was  one  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  that  institu- 
tion from  1851  to  1854,  besides  filling  other  prominent  posi- 
tions. He  published  some  twenty-five  sermons  and  disi',oui  nes 
delivered  on  public  occasions,  in  his  own  pulpit  and  elsewhere, 
including  one  on  the  close  of  his  pastorate  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  in  1852,  and  another  on  his  fortieth  anniversary,  in 
1867. 

Dr.  Hill  married,  Dec.  29,  1830,  Frances  Mary  Clark,  daugh- 
ter of  Hugh  Hamilton  Clark  of  Boston.  His  widow  and  a 
daughter  and  a  son  survive  him,  the  latter,  Hamilton  Alonzo 
Hill,  born  in  1832,  being  a  resident  of  Hyde  Park,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Hill,  Clark  &  Co.,  of  Boston. 

The  first  child  christened  by  Dr.  Hill,  was,  May  6,  1827, 
Caroline  Cutler,  daughter  of  Capt.  Ephraim  and  Caroline 
Mower. 

Dr.  Hill's  funeral,  Feb.  4,  1871,  in  the  church,  was  attended 
by  a  large  concourse  of  citizens,  among  those  wlio  took  part  in 
the  services,  being  Revs.  Edward  E.  Hale  and  Rusli  R.  Shippen 
of  Boston,  formerly  of  the  Church  of  the  Unity  in  Worcester, 
and  the  pall  bearers  were  from  the  oldest  members  of  his  con- 
gregation, Dea.  John  P.  Kettell,  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  Capt. 
John  Barnard,  Charles  A.  Hamilton,  Dr.  George  Chandler,  F. 
H.  Kinnicutt,  Walter  Bigelow,  and  Charles  H.  Whiting.  On 
the  following  day,  (Sunday)  a  memorial  discourse  was  preach- 
ed by  his  colleague,  Rev.  Edward  H.  Hall. 

Dr.  Hill's  residence,  while  pastor,  was  on  the  beautiful  estate 
on  the  easterly  side  of  Lincoln  street,  next  south  of  that  of  Gov. 
John  Davis.  His  delightful  grounds  were  the  scene  of  numer- 
ous Sunday  School  and  other  gatherings  of  members  of  his 
congregation,  which  will  be  long  remembered. 
19 


14G  Reminiscences   of  Wo7'cester. 

The  Third  and  Present  Pastor. 
.  Rev.  Edward  Henry  Hall,  (son  of  Rev.  Edward  Brooks  Hall, 
D.  D.,  settled  minister  in  Providence  from  1832  to  1836,)  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  University  in  1851,  and  at  Harvard  Divinity 
School  in  1855,  traveled  in  Europe  a  few  years,  and  was  ordain- 
ed at  Plymouth  in  1859,  where  he  preached  till  1867.  He  came 
to  Worcester  in  18G9,  and  was  installed  colleague  pastor  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Hill,  on  Wednesday,  Feb.  10,  with  the  following  exercises  : 
Original  anthem,  "  Awake,  put  on  thy  strength,"  composed  by 
C  C.  Stearns,  organist  and  director  of  the  choir,  and  inscribed 
to  the  new  pastor;  reading  of  Scriptures  and  introductory 
prayer  by  Rev.  A.  M.  Knapp,  successor  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Hall  at  Providence  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hall  of  Dor- 
Chester,  uncle  of  the  pastor-elect,  from  Acts  4  :  32  ;  installing 
prayer  by  tlie  senior  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Hill ;  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship by  Rev.  Rush  R.  Shippen,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the 
Unity.  In  consequence  of  the  illness  of  Rev.  Edward  E.  Hale 
of  Boston,  who  was  to  deliver  the  address  to  the  people,  that 
part  of  the  exercises  was  omitted,  and  tlie  concluding  prayer 
was  offered  by  Rev.  Joseph  Allen,  D.  D.,  of  Northborough. 
Subsequent  to  the  services  in  the  church,  the  congregation  re- 
paired to  tlie  vestry,  where,  after  a  collation  had  been  partaken 
of,  brief  addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hill,  Rev.  Dr.  Allen 
of  Northborough,  Rev.  E.  A.  Horton  of  Leominster,  Rev.  R. 
R.  Shippen  and  S.  S.  Green,  Esq.,  of  Worcester. 

Mr.  Hall  has  given  on  Sunday  evenings  several  series  of  very 
able  lectures  on  doctrinal,  practical  and  moral  topics,  one  series 
of  which,  entitled  "  Orthodoxy  and  Heresy  in  the  Christian 
Church,"  were  printed  in  1874,  comprising  a  volume  of  212 
octavo  pages. 

The  salaries  of  the  pastors  of  this  church  have  aggregated 
from  year  to  year,  about  tlie  same  as  at  the  first  parish,  at  the 
same  period,  having  gradually  risen  from  the  8500  originally 
paid  to  Dr.  l^ancroft,  to  83000  at  the  present  time  to  Mr.  Hall. 

The  Deacons. 

The  first  two  deacons,  elected  May  17,  1786,  were  Samuel 
Bridge  and  David  Bigelow,  the  former  serving  thirteen  years. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  147 

and  the  latter  twenty-one  years,  until  their  decease  ;  the  next, 
Nathan  Heard,  (father  of  the  present  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,) 
eighteen  years  from  1799  ;  Wm.  Trowbridge,  twenty  years 
from  1807  ;  Jeremiah  Robinson,  ten  years  from  1817  ;  Alpheus 
Merrifield,  twenty  years  from  1827  ;  Benjamin  Butman,  thir- 
teen years  from  1827  }  John  P.  Kettell,  thirty-five  years  from 
1839,  until  his  decease  in  1874,  the  longest  term  of  any  ;  Chas. 
A.  Hamilton,  sixteen  years  from  1847  ;  and  Phinehas  Ball  and 
John  C.  Otis,  the  present  deacons,  since  Nov.  1,  1863. 

Dea.  Wm.  Trowbridge  was  nephew  of  Edmund  Trowbridge 
of  Newton,  successively  Attorney  General  and  Chief  Justice  of 
Massachusetts  from  1749  to  1775.  Pea.  David  Bigelow  was 
brother  of  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow. 

Parish  Clerks. 

The  clerks  of  the  second  parish,  from  the  first,  have  been 
successively :  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Thomas  Payson,  (afterwards  master  of  the  Franklin  Grammar 
School  in  Boston,)  and  Daniel  Waldo,  Jr.,  to  1800  ;  followed 
by  Samuel  Allen,  senior,  Jeremiah  Robinson,  Enoch  Flagg, 
Sewall  Hamilton,  and  Samuel  Allen,  Jr.,  to  1816;  William 
Jennison,  fourteen  years  to  1830  ;  Fred.  Wm.  Paine,  Charles 
A.  Hamilton,  Edward  Lamb,  Edwin  Conant,  and  Nathaniel 
Eaton,  successively  to  1839  ;  George  W.  Wheeler,  eighteen 
years  to  1857  ;  George  G.  Burbank,  sixteen  years  to  1873  ; 
and  Frederick  W.  Ward  since  the  latter  date. 

The  Music. 

The  first  conductor  of  music  in  this  church,  after  the  pur- 
chase of  its  first  organ  in  1836,  was  Emory  Perry,  who  also  of- 
ficiated as  organist  until  1839,  when  S.  R.  Leland  succeeded 
Mr.  Perry  as  organist,  and  soon  afterwards  took  his  place  as 
conductor,  in  w4iich  capacity  Mr.  Leland  served  for  some  twelve 
years.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  Alexander  Stocking  in 
1852,  the  choir  being  under  his  direction  until  1867.  The 
organists  serving  under  Mr.  Stocking  were  :  Charles  F.  Cush- 
man,  Henry  W.  Fades,  Daniel  W.  Kimball,  Eugene  Thayer  and 
C.  Henshaw  Dana,  Messrs.  Thayer,  Dana,  and  Fades  being  very 


148  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

distinguished.  Miss  Ellen  M.  A.  Whiting  was  the  soprano  for 
about  eleven  years,  she  being  succeeded  by  Miss  Jenny  Twich- 
ell,  (now  Mrs.  Kempton,)  the  latter  being  succeeded  by  Miss 
Emma  Weeks  of  Lowell,  all  sopranos  of  the  first  order.  Miss 
Delia  Metcalf  was  contralto  for  some  eight  or  nine  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Woodcock.  F.  J.  Lawrence  was  basso 
eight  years  or  more,  also  E.  B.  Fairbanks  and  Anson  Cutting. 
C.  C.  Stearns  succeeded  Mr.  Stocking  as  conductor  and  organ- 
ist for  three  or  four  years,  when  Mr.  Stocking  again  took  the 
conductorship,  with  Miss  Fanny  Childs  as  soprano,  Miss  Fanny 
Putnam  as  contralto,  and  Henry  B.  Keith  as  organist,  the  lat- 
ter being  succeeded  bj  C.  P.  Morrison  as  organist  and  conduct- 
or. The  present  conductor  is  B.  T.  Hammond,  with  Walter 
Ingalls  as  organist.  Miss  Anna  Brierly  as  soprano,  and  Miss 
Agnes  Stone  as   contralto. 


CHAPTER     X 


The  First  Baptist  Church. 

Previous  to  1795,  there  were  but  three  persons  of  the  Bap- 
tist persuasion  in  the  town  of  Worcester :  the  first  Dr.  John 
Green,  son  of  the  founder  of  the  church  in  Greenville,  Leices- 
ter ;  Amos  Putnam,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Charl- 
ton ;  and  Dolly  Flagg,  wife  of  Col.  Samuel  Flagg.  In  the 
spring  of  1795,  James  Wilson,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
in  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  in  England,  removed  to  this  country, 
in  order  tliat  he  might  enjoy  more  fully  the  blessings  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Worcester,  mak- 
ing the  fourth  Baptist  in  the  place,  where  he  exerted  a  wide 
influence  during  his  residence  here  of  nearly  forty  years,  being- 
postmaster  for  thirty  one  years,  and  the  first  deacon  of  the 
church. 

During  the  long  period  between  1795  and  1812,  however, 
there  appear  to  have  been  no  new  converts,  here,  to  this  faith, 
although  there  was  occasional  preaching  at  the  house  of  James 
Wilson  ;  and  the  decease  of  the  three  others  named  left  him  the 
only  Baptist  in  the  town  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1812. 
The  preaching  at  the  old  South  Church  by  Dr.  Austin,  was 
calculated  to  hinder,  instead  of  advance,  the  progress  of  the 
new  faith,  he  professing  to  consider  it  a  dangerous,  and  even  a 
ruinous  heresy.  Dr.  Austin  not  only  denied  his  pulpit  to  the 
preachers  of  this  class  of  Christians,  but  frequently  took  occa- 
sion to  declaim  against  their  religion  before  his  congregation. 

During  the  year  1812,  however,  through  the  instrumentality 
and  efforts  of  James  Wilson,  the  attendance  at  Baptist  gather- 
ings became  more  numerous,  and  great  progress  was  made  as 
the  result  of  the  preaching  of  Elders  William  Bentley  of  Tiver- 


150  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

ton,  R.  I.,  Caleb  Green  of  Newport,  John  Leland  of  Grafton, 
Luther  Goddard  of  Shrewsbury,  Thomas  Baldwin  of  Boston, 
Caleb  Blood  of  Portland,  Me.,  David  Pease  of  Belchertown, 
Jason  Livermore  of  Maiden,  and  otliers,  at  the  residences  of 
James  Wilson  and  William  Rice,*  and  at  various  school-houses 
in  the  town,  alternately.  Sunday,  May  31,  1812,  Elder  Bent- 
ley,  tlien  pastor  at  Tiverton,  R.  L,  who  had  been  preaching 
liere  for  several  weeks,  gave  three  discourses  in  the  old  school- 
house  on  the  Common,  which  stood  on  tlie  south-east  side, 
fronting  Salem  Square,  to  a  crowded  audience,  and  during  the 
afternoon  Rebecca  Parsons  and  John  M.  Hunt  were  baptized, 
this  being  the  first  time  the  ordinance  of  baptism  by  immersion 
was  administered  in  Worcester.  Two  sermons  against  the 
Baptists  followed  on  the  next  Sunday  from  Rev.  Dr.  Austin  in 
the  old  South  Church,!  in  consequence  of  which  Elder  Bent- 
ley  was  induced  to  return  again  to  Worcester,  and  preached 
Friday  evening,  June  26,  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Rice,  from  Rev. 
11 :  6,  and  at  the  school  house  on  the  Common  the  following 
Sunday,  when  the  ordinance  of  baptism  was  administered  in 
the  afternoon,  at  Col.  Samuel  Flagg's  mill  pond,  (on  Green 
street,)  to  William  Rice,  Patty  Rice,  Thompson  Kimberly,  De- 
borah Kimberly,  Hannah  Hall  and  Solomon  Parsons. 

During  the  following  month  of  July,  the  number  of  meetings 
at  private  residences  and  school  liouses  increased,  and  Elder 
Bentley  came  again  and  preached  on  Sunday,  July  29,  in  the 
school  house  at  Tatnuclc.  As  stated  in  the  records  of  James 
Wilson,  the  first  clerk  as  well  as  deacon,  who  did  so  much  for 
the  formation  of  the  church  here,  the  house  was  filled  with  at- 
tentive hearers,  among  them  Dr.  Austin,  who  rose  after  the  ser- 
mon was  finished,  and  said  to  the  congregation  that  "  the  lead- 
ing doctrines  of  Elder  Bentley,  in  the  discourse  just  delivered, 
were  the  same  he  had  preached  among  them  for  two  and  twen- 

*  This  is  tlie  William  Rice  alluded  to  on  page  49.  He  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Hartford,  Ct.,  in  1810. 

t  In  the  first  of  these  two  sermons  the  Baptists  were  called  "  a  sneaking  set 
who  hovered  about  the  suburbs,  not  dariug  to  come  into  the  centre  of  the 
town,"  in  allusion  to  their  meeting  in  outer  district  school  houses.  In  the  oth- 
er discourse,  (records  Dea.  VVilsou)  "the  Rev.  Dr.  railed  against  what  he  was 
pleased  to  denominate  the  audacity  of  the  Baptists  in  approaching  the  drop- 
pings of  his  sanctuary,"  alluding  to  their  holding  a  meeting  on  the  Common. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  151 

ty  years."  Monday,  July  30,  the  hall  over  the  centre  school- 
hoiiSe  was  opened  for  public  worship  by  the  Baptists,  with  a 
discourse  by  Elder  David  Pease  of  Belcherto wn,  and  this  place 
was  occupied  for  their  regular  place  of  worship  till  their  meet- 
ing house  was  built,  the  following  year.  Tuesday  evening,  Ju- 
ly 31,  Elder  Bentley  preached  in  what  was  then  known  as 
Gates'  school-house  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  corner  of 
Bloomingdale  road  and  Plantation  street,  (afterwards  known  as 
the  pond  district,)  and  Dr.  Austin,  who  attended,  took  excep- 
tion to  the  expositions  of  Scripture  given  by  Elder  Bentley,  and 
a  long  discussion  ensued,  this  being  the  last  time  Dr.  Austin 
attended  their  meetings.  Elder  Bentley,  in  the  course  of  his 
sermon,  taking  his  text  from  the  25th,  26th,  27th  and  28th 
verses  of  Paul's  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  made  the  remark  that 
"  there  would  be  a  great  shaking  among  the  churches — that 
the  whore  of  Babylon  must  come  down.  In  the  text,  he  said,; 
two  speakers  were  alluded  to ;  first,  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
by  whom  God  spake  on  earth, — and  Christ  and  his  apostles,  by 
whom  God  spake  from  Heaven."  Dr.  Austin  interposing,  and 
being  allowed  to  give  his  exposition  of  the  text,  a  conference 
or  discussion  ensued,  of  which  the  following  account  is  given 
by  Dea.  Wilson  : 

"  Elder  BentJey — The  only  difference  between  you  and  me  is,  that 
you  conclude  Moses  spoke  in  his  own  name  and  strength,  whereas 
I  believe  he  spoke  in  the  name  and  by  the  power  of  the  Most  High. 

"  i)r.  Austin — You  seem  to  have  construed  this  remark  of  the  apos- 
tle in  verse  27,  "•  Yet  once  more,  signifieth  the  removing  of  things  that 
are  shaken,"  as  alluding  to  the  downfall  of  Babylon  ?  Pray,  sir,  by 
this  allusion  to  the  downfall  of  Babylon,  did  you  intend  my  church  ? 

'•^  Elder  BeMtley — I  intended  no  particular  allusion  to  your  church. 
I  spoke  only  of  the  downfall  of  Babylon,  and  permit  me  to  ask  if  you 
do  not  believe  that  Babylon  will  fall,  and  is  even  now  falling  ? 

"  Dr.  Austin — Yes. 

"  Elder  Bentley — So  far,  then,  we  agree. 

"  Dr.  Austin — Do  you  consider  my  church  a  church  of  Christ  ? 

"  Elder  Bentley — I  know  nothing  of  your  church. 

"Z)r.  Austin  —  Why,  Mr.  Bentley,  do  you  not  answer  me  ? 

"  Elder  Bentley — If  you  wish  to  know  what  I  understand  by  the 
church  of  Christ,  I  will  readily  explain  it  to  you.  It  is  an  association 
of  believers  who  receive  baptism  by  immersion.  Now,  sir,  if  your 
church  corresponds  with  this  explanation,  it  is  then  in  my  opinion  a 
church  of  Christ. 


152  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

"  Dr.  Austin — Do  you  believe  me  to  be  a  minister  of  Christ? 

'-'- Elder  Bentley — Were  I  to  answer  that  question,  sir,  Solomon 
would  call  me  a  fool  ;  for  I  never  heard  you  preach,  nor  have  I  ever 
seen  a  sermon  of  yours  ;  and  Solomon  says,  '•  He  that  answereth  a 
matter  before  he  heareth  it,  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him."  How- 
ever, sir,  I  have  understood  from  my  distant  friends,  that  you  preach 
sound  doctrines. 

"  Dr.  Austin — Why  did  you  not  call  upon  me,  on  your  first  arrival 
in  the  town  of  Worcester  ? 

''^  Elder  Bentley — I  am  happy  in  this  opportunity  of  answering  that 
question  :  On  my  first  arrival  at  Worcester,  I  found  myself  in  the 
midst  of  strangers.  I  was  not  acquainted  with  any  person  in  the  town. 
A  lecture  being  appointed  to  be  held  at  brother  Wilson's  house,  I 
called  upon  that  gentleman,  and  inquired  if  he  thought  you  would  open 
your  meeting-house  for  me  to  preach  in. 

"  Brother  Wilson  replied,  he  did  not  think  you  would,  for  that  Eld- 
er Caleb  Green,  some  time  ago,  upon  a  similar  application,  was  re- 
fused, because  he  was  a  close  communionist.  Now,  sir,  as  you  refused 
your  meeting-house  to  Elder  Green,  so  I  had  every  reason  to  believe 
that  a  like  application  from  me  would  meet  with  a  like  refusal  from 
you.     It  was  for  this  reason,  sir,  that  I  did  not  call  upon  you." 

To  this  last  speech  of  Elder  Bentley,  Dr.  Austin  made  no  re- 
ply, but  left  the  school  house  with  great  apparent  mortification 
and  uneasiness,  i-ecords  Dea.  Wilson.* 

Sunday,  Aug.  2,  Elder  Bentley  preached  three  times  in  the 
hall,  and  from  that  time  regular  religious  services  were  held 
every  Sunday,  by  different  preachers,  besides  frequent  meetings 


*  The  character  of  this  discussion  may  have  been  looked  upon  in  a  different 
light  by  Dr.  Austin,  from  what  is  here  represented  by  Elder  Bentley.  How- 
ever decided  may  have  been  their  theological  antipathies  at  this  time,  these 
two  clistingiushed  and  able  representatives  of  their  respective  denominations, 
subsequently  became  warm  friends  before  leaving  Worcester,  w'hich  tliey  did  at 
nearly  the  same  time,  in  1815.  Rev,  Dr.  R.  E.  Pattison,  a  member  of  Dea.  Wil- 
son's household  by  marriage  with  his  daughter,  made  the  following  statement 
in  reference  to  this  matter:  "  It  is  due  to  the  memory  alike  of  Dr.  Austin  and 
of  Deacon  Wilson,  as  well  as  to  the  honor  of  religion,  which  seeks  and  pro- 
motes peace,  to  state  what  is  not  generally  known:  that  when  Dr.  Austin  dis- 
covered his  error  he  was  as  magnanimous  as  lie  had  been  tenacious.  After 
further  acquaintance  with  Dea.  Wilson,  and  that  ijrowlng  band  of  Christians 
who  gathered  around  him  in  that  enterprise,  on  seeing  tlieir  love  for  evangelical 
truth  and  the  pure  and  undefiled  religion  which  was  the  fruit  of  their  labors, 
he  sought  an  interview  with  Dea.  Wilson,  and  in  the  language  of  my  inform- 
ant, "  with  tears*'  acknowledged  his  mistake.  He  claimed  sinceritj",  as  acting 
from  no  motive  but  fidelity  to  what  he  deemed  truth  and  the  interest  of  reliction. 
Few  men  could  more  readily  appreciate  sucli  an  honest  conviction  of  duty, 
though  erroneous,  or  would  more  heartily  have  forgiven  the  offender,  than  Dea. 
Wilson.  Previous  to  this  interview,  and  as  they  understood  each  other  better, 
there  had  been  springing  up  not  only  between  the  two  eminently  godly  men, 
but  between  their  families,  a  kindly  feeling  wliich  at  a  later  period  ripened  into 
respect  and  affection." 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  1.53 

at  other  times.  Oct,  30,  1812,  Elder  Wm.  Bontlcy,  by  unan- 
imous request,  returned  to  Worcester  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  church  here  when  constituted. 

Constitution  of  the  Church. 

At  a  meeting,  on  Thursday,  Nov.  5,  of  the  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, at  the  house  of  James  Wilson,  Elder  Bentley,  moderator, 
and  James  Wilson,  clerk,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  form 
themselves  into  a  church,  a  confession  of  faith  and  form  o' 
church  government  drawn  up  by  brother  Wilson  were  adopted, 
and  this  was  the  constitution  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Worcester.  Wednesday,  Dec.  9,  was  set  apart  for  the  pub- 
lic exercises  in  recognition  of  the  new  church  and  the  installa- 
tion of  its  pastor,  at  which  the  First  Church  in  Providence,  the 
Second  Church  in  Boston,  the  First  Church  in  Sutton,  and  the 
churches  in  Warren,  R.  L,  Grafton,  Leicester,  Charlton  and 
Sturbridge  of  this  denomination  were  invited  to  take  part. 

Dr.  Austin  declining  the  use  of  the  old  South  meeting-house 
for  this  occasion,  Dr.  Bancroft  offered  the  use  of  that  of  the 
second  parish,  which  was  accepted. 

Letters  of  invitation  to  dine  with  the  council  of  churches  on 
the  day  of  installation  and  recognition,  were  sent  to  Revs.  Drs. 
Austin  and  Bancroft,  and  the  latter  accepted.  Dr.  Austin  de- 
clined for  the  following  reasons  stated  in  his  letter  of  declina- 
tion : 

"  Mr.  Bentley,  originally  excited  by  some,  and  seconded  by 
others  w^hose  sectarian  zeal  carries  them  beyond  a  regard  for 
several  of  the  primary  precepts  of  the  gospel,  has  commenced, 
and  is  prosecuting  a  partisan  warfare  against  the  harmony  and 
prosperity  of  the  church  and  congregation  under  my  pastoral 
care.  He  has  broken  in  upon  my  charge  at  a  moment  of  in- 
creasing and  very  promising  seriousness,  and  when  I  was 
obliged  to  be  from  home  on  missionary  and  other  concerns,  and 
has  drawn  several  awakened  inquirers  from  the  path  of  duty, 
and  it  is  to  be  feared,  from  the  path  of  salvation.  He  has  se- 
duced one  member  of  my  church  to  a  violation  of  her  solemn 
covenant  engagements,  and  confirmed  her  in  a  separation  ex- 
pressly reprobated  in  the  Scriptures.  He  has  announced,  as  is 
20 


154  ^  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

understood,  the  intentions  of  tlie  Baptists  to  occupy  tlie  meet- 
ing house  on  Wednesday,  against  a  full  expression  of  personal 
feeling,  the  rights  of  the  Christian  ministry,  the  order  of  Christ's 
house,  and  the  laws  of  the  land.  For  these  and  other  corres- 
pondent reasons  presenting  themselves  in  the  general  system  of 
Baptistical  procedure,  I  must  deline  an  acceptance  of  the  invit- 
ation, at  the  same  time  declaring  my  intention  in  the  future  to 
act  in  regard  to  the  Baptists  merely  on  the  defensive,  having 
determined  not  officiously  to  interfere,  and  not  wishing  myself 
to  be  interrupted  in  the  prosecution  of  a  work  consigned  to  me 
by  the  Redeemer  of  Zion." 

On  the  receipt  of  the  above  letter,  the  intention  of  occupying 
Dr.  Austin's  meeting  house  was  relinquished,  although  the  as- 
sessors had  granted  their  permission,  and  application  was  made 
by  Dea.  Wilson  to  Dr.  Bancroft,  for  leave  to  occupy  his  church, 
which  he  very  readily  granted,  and  attended  the  services,  both 
forenoon  and  afternoon. 

The  Installation  Exercises. 

The  council  representing  the  churches  before  named,  met 
on  the  morning  of  Dec.  9,  1812,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  James 
Wilson,*  and  after  organizing  by  the  choice  of  Elder  Joseph 
Cornell  of  Boston,  as  moderator,  and  Elder  Stephen  Gano  of 
Providence,  as  scribe,  they  adjourned  to  the  meeting-house  of 
Dr.  Bancroft  on  Summer  street,  where  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship was  extended  to  the  new  church  by  a  discourse  from 
Elder  Cornell  in  the  forenoon,  from  Luke  13  :  5  ;  and  a  simi- 
lar fellowship  was  extended  to  the  pastor.  Elder  Wm.  Bentley, 
in  a  discourse  by  Elder  Gano  in  the  afternoon,  from  1  Peter  2  :  5. 

In  this  council,  the  church  in  Greenville,  (Leicester),  was  re- 
presented by  Elder  Peter  Rogers  and  Dea.  David  Bryant ;  the 
church  in  Charlton  by  Elder  James  Boomer,  Dea.  Daniel 
Bacon  and  Daniel  Bacon,  Jr. ;  the  church  in  Grafton  by  Dea. 
Enoch  Batchelor  and  Amasa  Smith  ;  Sutton,  by  Deas.  Solo- 
mon Marble  and  Moses  Putnam,  James  McClellan,  Isaac  Dwin- 

Dea.  Wilson  resided  on  tlie  site  of  the  present  Union  Block,  (just  south  of 
the  present  Mechanics'  Hall  building).  The  old  building  in  which  he  lived, 
now  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Mechanic  street,  to  which  place  it  was  removed 
in  1853,  it  having  been  known  for  the  last  twenty  years  as  the  "Farmers' 
Hotel."  He  kept  the  post  office  in  a  small  building,  attached  to  the  south  of 
his  residence. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  155 

nell  and  Buckley  Waters  ;  and  Sturbridge,  by  Elder  Zenas  L. 
Leonard  and  Dea.  Henry  Fiske. 

Original  Members  of   the  Church. 

Of  the  new  church  thus  constituted,  nearly  sixty-five  years 
ago,  the  following  twenty-nine  persons,  fifteen  males  and  four- 
teen females,  were  the  original  members  :  James  Wilson,  Wm. 
Bentley,  William  Rice,  Solomon  Parsons,  James  Young,  Syl- 
vanus  Dana,  Isaac  Tucker,  Enos  Tucker,  Benjamin  Tucker, 
George  Grafton,  Abel  Flagg,  Abner  Putnam,  William  Henry, 
Jacob  Pell,  Thompson  Kimberly,  Mary  Bentley,  Rebecca  Par- 
sons, Patty  Rice,  Deborah  Kimberly,  Hannah  Hall,  Anna  Grout, 
Mary  Tucker,  Eliza  M.  Tucker,  Lydia  Irving,  Harriet  White, 
Rosanna  Pell,  Sarah  Sturtevant,  Nancy  Putnam. 

Solomon  Parsons,  above  named,  who  came  to  Worcester 
from  Leicester  in  1812,  and  settled  on  the  estate  between  Cher- 
ry Valley  and  New  Worcester,  previously  owned  and  occupied 
by  Reuben  and  Asa  Hamilton,  (grandfather  and  father  of  the 
present  Charles  A.  Hamilton,)  was  father  of  the  present  Solo- 
mon Parsons,  and  son  of  Dr.  Solomon  Parsons,  the  latter  being 
son  of  Rev.  David  Parsons,  the  first  pastor  of  the  old  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Leicester,  from  1721  to  1735. 

The  first  persons  added  to  the  church  after  its  constitution, 
by  the  administration  of  the  rite  of  water  baptism,  by  Elder 
Bentley,  were:  Dec.  27,  1812,  Daniel  and  Abigail  Rand,  Bet- 
sey Searle,  Nancy  Hersey,  and  Eliza  Johnson  ;  Jan.  3,  1813, 
Lucy  and  Sally  Adams  ;  Feb.  27,  Samuel  Davis,  Nancy  White, 
Abigail  Johnson,  Olive  Davis  and  Hannah  Hemenway  ;  April 
17,  Daniel  Hersey  and  Patty  Johnson  ;  May  2,  1813,  Gustavus 
F.  Davis,  Polly  Goulding  and  Harriet  Johnson.  Of  these,  one, 
the  venerated  and  esteemed  "Aunt  Hannah"  Hemenway,  still 
survives,  the  oldest  member  of  the  church,  with  which  she  thus 
united  sixty-four  years  ago,  coming  within  a  year  of  being  one 
of  the  original  members. 

The  First  Meeting   House. 
Numerous  additions  to  the   church  continued   to  be   made, 
and  from  this  beginning  the  church  and  society  increased    so 


156  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

rapidly  that  the  hall  in  the  Centre  School-house  became  insuf- 
ficient to  hold  their  meetings  in  ;  and  measures  were  accord- 
ingly adopted  for  the  erection  of  a  meeting-house,  which  was 
built  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1813,  upon  the  site  of  the 
present  house  of  worship  of  that  society,  on  the  east  side  of 
Salem  Square.  It  was  begun  May  19,  and  finished  in  season 
for  dedication,  on  Thursday,  Dec.  23,  following,  when  a  sermon 
was  preached  by  Elder  Bentley  from  Haggai  2  :  9,  "  The  glory 
of  this  latj;er  house,"  <fec.,  to  a  numerous  audience. 

This  was  a  plain  wooden  structure  of  moderate  dimensions, 
about  45  by  60  feet,  without  a  tower,  and  cost  ^3^2459,  princi- 
pally defrayed  by  a  sale  of  the  pews,  of  which  there  were  four 
tiers  on  the  first  floor,  entered  from  two  aisles,  besides  slips  on 
each  side  of  the  pulpit,  and  there  were  galleries  on  three  sides 
of  the  house.  The  land  cost  '$100.  The  cluirch  committee 
having  charge  of  the  building,  were  James  Wilson,  William 
Rice  and  Enos  Tucker.  In  the  fall  of  1827,  the  house  was  made 
twenty  feet  wider  by  putting  on  two  one-story  leantoes  giving 
an  additional  tier  of  pews  to  each  side,  entered  from  wall  aisles. 
At  the  same  time  a  tower  was  added,  and  a  bell  put  in.  The 
expense  of  this  enlargement  and  addition  was  $^2850.  The 
carpenter  work  was  done  by  Capt.  Zenas  Studley  and  Horatio 
N.  Tower.  This  building  was  burned  between  one  and  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  21,  1836,  and  steps  were  im- 
mediately taken  for  the  erection  of  a  new  house  on  its  site, 
meetings  being  held  in  the  meanwhile  at  the  Thomas  Street 
Chapel,  then  belonging  to  the  Calvinistic  Cliurch. 

At  the  same  time  the  first  house  of  worship  was  erected,  in 
1813,  a  parsonage  house  was  built  on  the  south-west  corner  of 
Park  and  Green  streets,  it  being  the  same  house  afterwards 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  John  Foxcroft.  Elder  Bentley  re- 
sided here  during  his  pastorate.  The  builder  of  this  house  and 
of  the  church  was  James  Hall  of  Shrewsbury,  and  among  those 
who  worked  for  him  in  the  building  of  these  tw^o  structures 
was  the  venerable  Capt.  Erastus  Tucker  of  this  city,  now  in  his 
84th  5^ear.  The  old  dwelling  now  stands  on  Washington  street, 
just  in  the  rear  of  Gates'  block,  the  site  of  which  it  formerly 
occupied.     The  old  parsonage  grounds  had  an  extensive  front- 


Beminiscences  of    Woi-cester.  ]57 

age  on  Park  and  Green  streets,  Elder  Going  also  residing  there 
during  the  first  portion  of  his  ministry. 

The  Second  and  Present  House  of  Worship. 

The  building  of  the  new  house  was  begun  in  July,  1836,  un- 
der direction  of  a  committee  consisting  of  Hon.  Isaac  Davis, 
Dea.  Daniel  Goddard,  James  S.  Woodworth  and  others  ;  and 
the  work  was  prosecuted  with  such  vigor  that  the  vestry  was 
ready  for  occupany  in  November  following,  and  regular  services 
were  held  there  till  the  whole  building  was  completed,  the  mid- 
dle of  August,  1837,  when  the  body  of  the  house  was  first  open- 
ed for  public  worship,  with  a  discourse  by  the  then  pastor.  Rev. 
Jonathan  Aldrich,  from  Psalms  73  :  5.  Of  this  structure,  50 
feet  by  80,  surmounted  by  a  spire,  138  feet  high,  and  costing 
$17,000,  James  S.  Woodworth  was  the  architect  and  builder. 
In  it  were  placed  an  organ,  costing  $2000,  and  a  clock,  both 
given  by  Hon.  Isaac  Davis. 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  year  1867,  and  the  beginning  of 
1868,  the  building  was  enlarged  to  its  present  ample  and  spa- 
cious dimensions  at  an  expenditure  of  over  $25,000,  makint'- 
it  essentially  a  new  house.  The  enlargement  was  made  by  cut- 
ting the  structure  longitudinally  through  the  ridge,  and  sep- 
arating the  parts  sixteen  feet,  filling  the  intervening  space  with 
new  materials ;  and  cutting  it  laterally  immediately  in  the  rear 
of  the  steeple,  removing  the  larger  part  easterly  to  the  rear  of 
the  lot,  and  filling  the  intervening  space  of  twenty  feet  with 
new  materials.  Bj  this  arrangement,  the  width  of  the  house 
was  increased  to  sixty-six  feet,  and  the  length  to  102  feet. 
The  vestry  was  also  proportionately  enlarged,  and  made  entire- 
ly new,  with  commodious  and  convenient  ante-rooms,  kitchen, 
&c.,  entrance  thereto  being  from  the  first  story  of  the  vestibule, 
flights  of  stairs  leading  to  the  main  audience  room  above. 
New  galleries  were  also  put  in,  new  pews,  and  new  windows  of 
"  flock  glass"  were  deemed  necessary  to  correspond  with  this 
thorough  remodeling  and  modernizing  of  the  structure,  which 
is  now  one  of  the  most  spacious  and  attractive  appearing  houses 
of  worship  in  the  city.  At  the  same  time,  a  new  organ  costing 
$3269,  was  put  in,  from  the   Baumgarten  Organ   Company  of 


158  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

New  Haven,  Conn.,  towards  which  ilOOO  was  allowed  for  tlie 
old  organ  in  exchange.  The  reconstruction  of  the  church  ed- 
ifice was  made  by  Alonzo  Bowers,  contractor,  of  Somerville,  un- 
der the  supervision  of  a  building  committee  consisting  of  X.  L. 
Burbank,  Alzirus  Brown,  Samuel  Warren,  S.  N.  Story,  Free- 
man Upham,  John  Simmons,  and  Rev.  H.  K.  Pervear.  The 
vestry  began  to  be  occupied  for  religious  services  the  first  Sun- 
day in  January,  1868,  and  the  house  was  finished  four  months 
later,  the  dedicatory  exercises  taking  place  on  Thursday  after- 
noon. May  7,  on  which  occasion  the  pastor.  Rev.  H.  K.  Pervear, 
preached  a  discourse  from  Hab.  2 :  20,  "  The  Lord  is  in  his 
holy  temple,"  followed  with  the  dedicatory  prayer  by  Rev. 
David  Weston  of  the  Pleasant  street  Baptist  Church.  In  the 
evening,  a  discourse  was  preached  by  Rev.  Lemuel  Moss,  (Mr. 
Pervear's  predecessor  as  pastor  of  this  church,)  from  Matt. 
13:  33. 

At  the  same  time  the  above  improvements  were  being  made 
in  the  house  of  worship,  the  hill  on  which  it  stood,  and  the 
ground  in  front  of  it  were  graded  and  lowered  six  feet  by  the 
city  authorities,  greatly  adding  to  the  general  appearance  of 
that  locality. 

This  church  has  had  nine  pastors  in  sixty-five  years,  as  fol- 
lows : 

The   Pastors. 

1.  Rev.  William  Bentley,  born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  March  3, 
1775 ;  at  the  age  of  13  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  baker  in 
Boston.  He  joined  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Boston,  then 
under  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stillman,  and  subsequently 
connected  himself  with  the  Second  Baptist  Church  there,  then 
under  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Baldwin,  by  whom  he  was  in- 
fluenced to  become  a  preacher.  Without  any  collegiate  educa- 
tion, he  was  ordained  as  evangelist  in  Salem  in  1807,  soon  af- 
ter which  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  Tiverton,  R.  I., 
from  which  place  he  came  to  Worcester  in  1812,  and  removed 
from  here  in  December,  1815,  to  take  charge  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  where  he  officiated  six  years, 
and  was  then  for  sixteen  years  Domestic  Missionary  of  the  State 


Beminiscences  of  Worcester.  159 

of  Connecticut,  laboring  also  six  weeks  in  each  year  for  tlie 
Massachusetts  Domestic  Missionary  Society.  From  1840  to 
1847,  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in 
Middletown,  Conn.,  after  which  he  occasionally  supplied  des- 
titute churches  in  Connecticut,  residing  at  Wethersfield,  where 
he  died  Dec.  24,  1855,  aged  over  80,  forty  years  after  leaving 
his  Worcester  charge.  During  his  long  ministry  he  baptized, 
on  profession  of  their  faith,  nearly  800  persons,  and  in  his 
various  journeys  claimed  that  he  "  rode  in  his  own  carriage  as 
many  miles  as  would  go  round  the  world  three  times."  His 
bold  and  energetic  characteristics  adapted  him  far  more  espe- 
cially as  a  pioneer  and  general  missionary,  in  wliich  iie  did  so 
much  efficient  service,  than  as  a  long  settled  preacher  in  the 
same  locality.     His  annual  salary,  while  here,  was  but  $300. 

2.  The  second  pastor.  Rev.  Jonathan  Going,  D.  D.,  (son  of 
Capt.  Jonathan  and  Sarah  Kendall  Going,  formerly  of  Lunen- 
burg, Mass.,)  was  born  in  Reading,  Vt.,  March  7,  1786,  grad- 
uated at  Brown  University  in  1808,  and  studied  theology  there 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  Messer,  then  president  of  the  college.  In 
1811,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Cavendish,  Vt., 
and  removed  thence  to  Worcester,  beginning  liis  labors  here 
Dec.  10,  1815,  in  pursuance  of  acall extended  to  him  previously. 
During  his  long  pastorate  of  sixteen  years,  the  membership  of 
the  church  was  very  largely  increased,  as  well  as  the  interests 
of  temperance,  common  school  education,  home  and  foreign 
missions,  and  of  religion  and  good  morals  generally,  he  being  a 
most  indefatigable  worker  in  every  good  cause,  so  much  so  as 
in  the  end  to  break  down  his  powerful  physical  constitution, 
and  oblige  him  to  resign  his  duties  here.  Retiring  from  Wor- 
cester in  1831,  he  became  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  then  just  organized, 
with  head-quarters  at  New  York,  and  in  this  capacity  was  pro- 
prietor and  editor  of  its  organ,  the  "  Mission  Record,"  for  five 
years.  From  1836  to  his  decease,  Nov.  9,  1844,  he  was  pre- 
sident and  theological  professor  of  Granville  College,  Ohio,  of 
which  institution  he  had  been  one  of  the  principal  founders. 

Dr.  Going  received  the  title  of  A.  M.  from  the  University  of 
Vermont  in  1818  ;  and  of  D.  D.  from  Waterville  College,  Maine, 


IGO  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

in  1832.  Ill  tlic  early  part  of  his  ministry  here  he  instructed 
tlie  Latin  Grammar  school  one  year,  and  for  many  years  acted 
a  leading  part  in  improving  the  system  of  education  in  our 
common  schools.  The  first  Sabbath  School  in  the  county  was 
established  by  him  in  his  church  here  in  1816.  He  married,  in 
1811,  LucyJThorndike  of  Dunstable.  His  annual  salary  aver- 
aged a[little  less  than  $500. 

3.  The  third  pastor,  Rev.  Frederick  Augustus  Willard,  born 
in  Lancaster,  was  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Willard,  and  graduated 
at  Amherst  College  in  1826,  and  Newton  Theological  Seminary 
in  1830.  For  two  years  he  was  professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Botany  in  Vermont  University  at  Woodstock,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  at  Worcester,  Jan.  18,  1832,  with  the  fol- 
lowing exercises :  Reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rev.  John  Greene 
of  Greenville.  Leicester ;  introductory  prayer  by  Rev.  Otis  Con- 
verse of  Grafton ;  sermon  by  Rev.  Prof.  Henry  J.  Ripley  of 
Newton  Theological  Seminary  ;  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev. 
Elisha  Sampson  of  Harvard  ;  charge  to  the  pastor-elect,  and 
address  to  the  congregation  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Going,  D.  D., 
the  retiring  pastor  ;  right  hand  of  fellows^iip  by  Rev.  Wm. 
Hague,  D.  D.,  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Boston  ;  conclud- 
ing prayer  by  Rev.  John  Walker  of  Sutton.  The  members  of 
the  Worcester  church  having  direction  of  the  exercises  were  : 
Rev.  Luther  Goddard  ;  Deacons  Nathaniel  Stowell,  Daniel  God- 
dard,  and  Solomon  Marble ;  and  brethren  Isaac  Davis,  Ben- 
jamin Flagg,  Wm.  Keith,  Lewis  Thayer  and  Daniel  Shcphard. 

After  resigning  his  pastorate  here,  August  1,  1835,  he  was 
settled  in  Newton  four  years,  then  ten  years  in  Louisville,  Ky., 
successively  as  pastor,  college  professor  and  superintendent  of 
city  missions  ;  pastor  in  South  Danvers  from  1849  for  a  few 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Newton,  where  he  died. 

Mr.  Willard  married  in  1839,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Seth  Davis 
of  Newton. 

4.  Rev.  Jonathan  Aldrich,  the  fourth  pastor,  (son  of  Asquire 
Aldrich  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Yt.,)  graduated  at  Brown  University 
in  1826,  prepared  for  the  ministry  at  Newton,  and  was  ordained 
at  Dedham  in  December,  1827,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
then  officiated  a  short  time  at  Beverly  and  East  Cambridge,  and 


Bemimsceuces  of  Worcester.  161 

was  installed  at  Worcester,  Oct.  27,  1835,  with  the  following 
exorcises:  Sermon  by  Rev.  Baron  Stow  of  Boston,  charge  by 
Rev.  Abisha  Samson  of  Southborough,  installing  prayer  by 
Rev.  Charles  0.  Kimball  of  Methuen,  right  hand  of  fellowship 
by  Rev.  F.  A.  Willard,  address  to  the  people  by  Rev.  Charles 
Train  of  Framingham,  and  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  John 
Walker  of  Sutton. 

Mr.  Aldrich  officiated  here  till  May,  1838,  after  which  time 
lie  labored  successively  as  pastor  in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
secretary  and  agent  of  the  New  England  Sabbath  School  Union, 
pastor  at  Framingham,  and  agent  of  the  American  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Union,  in  which  latter  capacity  he  officiated  several 
years,  residing  at  Worcester,  where  he  died  Jan.  19, 1862,  aged 
62.  He  married  in  1828,  Catharine  P.,  daughter  of  Asa  Lewis, 
then  of  Dedham,  afterwards  of  Worcester.  His  salary  as  pas- 
tor here  was  ^100. 

5.  Rev.  Samuel  Budd  Swaim,  D.  D.,  the  fifth  pastor,  was 
born  in  Pemberton,  N.  J.,  June  22,  1809,  (being  the  oldest 
son  of  Judge  Thomas  and  Mary  Budd  Swaim.)  He  was  at 
Columbia  College,  Washington,  D.  C,  one  year,  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  1830,  at  Newton  Theological  Seminary  in 
1S33,  and  was  ordained  at  Haverhill,  Nov"  7,  the  latter  year. 
After  preaching  on  supply  successively  at  Haverhill,  Mass.,  and 
Brunswick  and  Augusta,  Elaine,  he  was  for  one  year  professor 
of  theology  in  Granville  College,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  pas- 
tor of  the  Baptist  Church  there.  He  began  his  pastorate  in 
Worcester,  the  first  Sunday  in  April,  1839,  and  remained  here 
over  fifteen  years,  resigning  on  account  of  ill  health.  May  4, 
1854,  after  a  ministry  of  unusual  success  and  general  accept- 
ance. He  was  next  settled  in  West  Cambridge,  where  he  re- 
mained over  eight  years,  being  obliged  to  suspend  his  minister- 
ial labors  on  account  of  exhausted  energies,  and  changed  his 
residence  to  Cambridgeport.  For  two  years  subsequently  he 
acted  as  District  Secretary  for  New  England,  of  the  Baptist 
Home  Missionary  Society,  but  died  soon  afterwards.  Jan.  22, 
1865,  the  last  Sunday  but  one  before  his  decease.  Dr.  Swaim 
preached  two  discourses  in  his  old  pulpit  in  Worcester,  in  the 
forenoon  from  Neb.  7  :  2,  and  in  the  aitcrnoon  from  Mat.  27:  2. 
21 


162  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

He  preached  his  last  sermon  in  Lexington  the  following 
Snnday,  and  died,  suddenly,  of  rheumatism  of  tlie  heart,  the 
following  Friday,  Feb.  3,  1865,  at  his  residence  in  Cambridge- 
port,  aged  55  years  and  J  months.  He  received  the  degree 
of  D.  I),  from  Waterville  College,  Maine,  and  from  Brown 
University. 

•  Dr.  Swaim  married,  May  4,  1837,  Mary  Noble,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  G.  Noble  of  Portland,  Maine,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children:  1,  Samuel  Noble,  born  Feb.  5,  1838,  died  Nov. 
27,  1859  ;  2,  Mary  A.  Noble,  born  in  Worcester,  Feb.  9,  1840, 
died  June  29,  1865.  His  first  w^ife  died  in  Worcester,  August 
29,  1841,  and  he  married  Oct.  10,  1842,  Aurora  D.  Skinner, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Parry  C.  and  Mary  Skinner  of  Windsor,  Yt., 
by  whom  he  had  five  children  :  1,  Thomas  Parry,  born  Feb. 
24,  1844,  died  Sept.  4,  1846  ;  2,  Baron  Stow,  born  April  7, 
1846,  died  May  29,  1848;  3,  Roger   Williams,  born  July  12, 

1848,  lately  deceased  ;  4,  Joseph  Skinner,  born  May  2,  1851  ; 
5,  Elizabeth  Day,  born  Aug.  20,  1854. 

6.  Rev.  John  Davis  Edmands  Jones,  the  sixth  pastor,  was 
born  in  Charles  River  Village,  Needham,  Nov.  11,  1819,  son  of 
John  Jones.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1845, 
studied  two  years  for  the  ministry  at  Newton  Theological  Sem- 
inary, was  then  for  two  years  principal  of  Troy  Academy,  N. 
Y.,  and  ordained  pastor  at  North  Bennington,  Yt.,  Nov.  8, 

1849,  where  he  officiated  as  pastor  nearly  six  years,,  and  began 
his  pastorate  in  Worcester,  April  1,  1855,  which  he  resigned  in 
April,  1859,  to  take  the  position  of  superintendent  of  public 
schools  in  AVorcester,  which  he  held  for  seven  years  till  Jan.  1, 
1866,  and  has  been  for  the  last  eleven  years  superintendent  of 
agencies  of  the  State   Mutual  Life  Assurance  Co.  of  Worcester. 

Mr.  Jones  married  in  March,  1846,  Clarissa  A.  Day,  daugh- 
ter of  Preston  Day,  Esq.,  of  Wrentham,  and  they  have  had 
three  children  :  1,  Preston  Day  Jones,  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,Dec. 
18,  1847,  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1869,  and  has  been 
for  several  years  principal  of  Belmont  street  Grammar  School 
in  Worcester;  2,  Edward  Davis  Jones,  born  in  Worcester,  Oct. 
7,  1856,  studied  at  Brown  University  one  year,  and  has  been 
for  two  years  past  city  editor  of  the  Providence  Evening  Press ; 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  163 

3,  Clara  Alice  Jones,  born  Aug.   21,  1858,  now  Sophomore   in 
Wellesley  College,  where  she  has  been  nearly  two  years. 

7.  Rev.  Lemuel  Moss,  D.  D.,  the  seventh  pastor,  was  born 
in  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  Dec.  27,  1829  ;  worked  nine  years 
at  the  printing  business  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  graduated  at 
Rochester  University,  New  York,  in  1858,  and  at  the  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  there  in  1860  ;  and  was  ordained  at  Worcester, 
Aug.  30,  1860,  with  the  following  exercises :  reading  of  Scrip- 
tures by  Rev.  J.  D.E.  Jones  of  Worcester;  introductory  prayer 
by  Rev.  Jonathan  Aldricli  of  Worcester  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  J. 
R.  Scott  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  ;  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  R. 
E.  Pattison  of  Worcester ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Dr.  E. 
G.  Robinson,  then  of  Rochester  Theological  Seminary,  now 
president  of  Brown  University  ;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by 
Rev.  H.  L.  Wayland  of  the  Main  street  Baptist  Church,  Wor- 
cester ;  charge  to  the  church  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  F.  Warren  of 
Boston ;  closing  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Abial  Fisher  of  Belling- 
ham. 

Dr.  Moss  resigned  his  pastorate  in  September,  1864,  to  enter 
the  service  of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission,  as  one 
of  its  Secretaries,  and  after  the  war  was  successively  editor  of 
the  American  Baptist  at  Philadelphia  ;  professor  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Lewisburg,  and  Theological  Seminary  at  Chester,  Penn.  ; 
president  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  111. ;  and  is  now  pre- 
sident of  Franklin  College,  Indiana. 

Dr.  Moss  married,  December,  1851,  Harriet  Brigham. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Moss,  that  the  interesting 
semi-centennial  exercises  took  place  Dec.  9,  1862,  in  celebra- 
tion of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  constitution  of  this  church, 
on  which  occasion  an  able  and  interesting  historical  address  was 
delivered  by  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  with  other  appropriate  exercises. 

8.  Rev.  Hiram  K,  Pervear,  the  eighth  pastor,  was  born  in 
Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  graduated  at  Brown  University,  and 
Newton  Theological  Seminary ;  and  was  first  settled  in  East 
Cambridge.  He  began  his  pastorate  in  Worcester  the  first 
Sunday  in  May,  1865,  and  left  in  January,  1873,  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Cambridgeport,  where  he  has  since  re. 
mained. 


164  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

9.  Rev.  Benjamin  DeForest  Marshall,  D.  D.,  tlie  ninth  and 
present  pastor,  Avas  born  in  North  Egremont,  son  of  Rev.  Enos 
and  Helen  DeForest  Marshall,  now  of  Clarksburg,  Munroe  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Rochester  University  in  1852,  and  at 
Rochester  Theological  Seminary  in  1855 ;  was  settled^four 
years  at  Lockport,  and  thirteen  years  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ;  and 
began  his  pastorate  at  Worcester  the  first  Sunday  in  April, 
1873,  when  he  preached  his  introductory  discourse  from  Eph. 
4:  11,  12.  The  public  installation  exercises  in  recognition  of 
the  commencement  of  his  pastorate  here,  and  of  Rev.  F.  W. 
Bakeman  as  pastor  of  the  Main  street  Baptist,  which  took  place 
at  the  same  time,  May  16,  1873,  were  as  follows:  Reading  of 
Scriptures  by  Rev.  C.  Y.  Hanson  of  Peabody  ;  prayer  by  Rev. 
Dr.  George  H.  Gould  of  the  Piedmont  Congregational  Church  ; 
sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Heman  Lincoln  of  Newton,  from  John  12  : 
3  ;  prayer  of  installation  by  Rev.  S.  H.  Stackpole  of  Westboro'  ; 
charge  to  the  pastors  by  Rev.  Dr.  S.  B.  Grant  of  Fitchburg  ; 
right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  I.  R.  Wheelock  of  Pleasant 
street  Baptist  Church ;  charge  to  the  churches  by  Rev.  George 
B.  Gow  of  Worcester. 

Dr.  Marshall  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Rochester 
University.  He  married  in  1856,  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  Cather- 
ine R.  Woods,  daughter  of  Judge  Jonathan  L.  and  Cornelia 
(Dayton)  Woods,  and  they  have  had  four  children,  as  follows, 
the  two  oldest  being  members  of  the  June  (1877,)  graduating 
class  of  the  Worcester  High  School:  1,  Cornelia  D. ;  2,  John 
Murray  ;  3,  Helen  D.,  now  member  of  the  Walnut  street  Gram- 
mar School  ;  4,  Ernest  W. 

Dr.  Marshall,  now  in  his  fifth  year  of  service  here,  has  of- 
ficiated with  great  acceptance.  Besides  his  pulpit  and  pastoral 
labors,  he  has  given  several  series  of  Sunday  evening  discourses 
on  moral  and  practical  topics,  suggested  by  the  reformatory 
movements  of  the  day,  in  which  he  has  taken  a  prominent  part. 

The  annual  salaries  of  the  nine  pastors  of  this  church  have 
averaged  as  follows,  from  the  beginning  :  1,  Wm.  Bentley, 
1812  to  1815,  $300  ;  2,  Jonathan  Going,  1815  to  1832,  8400  ; 
3,  F.  A.  Willard,  1832  to  1835,  $500  ;  4,  Jonathan  Aldrich, 
1835  to  1838,  i700  ;  5,  S.  B.  Swaim,  1839  to  1854,^900;  6, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  1G5 

J.  D.  E.  Jones,  1855  to  1859,  81200  ;  7,  Lemuel  Moss,  1860  to 
1864, 11400  ;  8,  H.  K.  Pervear,  1865  to  1873,  about  12000  ;  9, 
Rev.  Dr.  Marshall  from  1873,  $3000. 

Among  the  early  members  of  this  church,  whom  it  has 
instructed  and  sent  fortli  to  the  world,  are  many  distinguished 
preachers  of  the  gospel,  doctors  of  divinity,  and  presidents  of 
colleges,  including  Rev.  Abisha  Sampson,  afterwards  minister 
at  Harvard  ;  his  son.  Rev.  George  W.  Sampson,  D.  D.,  for  many 
years  past  president  of  Columbia  College,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Rev.  Silas  Bailey,  D.  D.,  successively  president  of  Granville 
Ohio,  and  of  Franklin  College,  Indiana  ;  Rev.  Robert  E.  Patti- 
son,  D.  D.,  president  successively  of  Waterville  College,  and  of 
tlie  Theological  Seminaries  at  Covington,  Ky.,  and  Newton, 
Mass.  ;  Rev.  Prof.  Samuel  S.  Green  of  Brown  University ;  and 
Rev.  Gustavus  F.  Davis,  D.  D.,  who  died  at  Hartford  in  1836  ; 
besides  a  host  of  otliers,  distinguished  in  educational  as  well  as 
religious  enterprises  in  home  and  foreign  fields. 

The  Deacons. 
The  deacons  of  this  church  have  been,  from  the  bef2:innin<]: : 
James  Wilson,  21  years  from  1812  to  1833  ;  Nathaniel  Stow- 
ell,  38  years  from  1822  to  his  death,  April  28,  1860,  aged  90  ; 
Daniel  Goddard,  20  years  from  1822  to  1842,  when  he  became 
united  with  the  Pleasant  Street  Baptist  Church,  where  he  of- 
ficiated as  deacon  thirty  years  till  1873,  making  fifty  years  in 
all;  Zebina  E.  Berry,  12  years  from  1836  to  1848;  Joseph 
Converse,  5  years  from  1844  to  his  death,  April  6,  1849  ; 
George  W.  Rugg,  28  years  from  1848  to  his  death  in  1876  ; 
Enoch  Hall,  8  years  from  1848  to  1856  ;  Rhodes  B.  Chap- 
man and  Amos  Lyon,  each  for  a  brief  period,  the  latter 
in  1855-56  ;  Henry  B.  Hakes  and  Samuel  Warren  from  1868 
to  1873.  The  present  deacons  are  :  Nathaniel  G.  Whitney, 
chosen  in  1868  ;  Simeon  N.  Story  and  Moses  S.  Johnson,  chosen 
in  1873,  and  George  W.  Huse  in  1876. 

The   Clerks. 
The  clerks  of  the   church,  since   the  time  of  Elder   Going, 
who  kept  the  records  during  most  of  his  pastorate,  have  been : 


1G6  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

Benjamin  Flagij;,  Joel  Marble,  R.  B.  Chapman,  Charles  War- 
ren, George  A.  Willard,  and  Charles  H.  Hill,  from  1830  to 
1842  ;  Horace  Ayres,  15  years  to  1857  ;  succeeded  by  Jona- 
than Luther,  and  Benjamin  S.  Luther  to  1864,  and  Charles  F. 
Kugg  to  the  present  time. 

The  society  clerks  since  1853  have  been  :  Simeon  N.  Story, 
Benjamin  Goddard,  George  H.  Rice  and  John  Q.  Adams. 

The  Music. 
The  music  at  this  church,  for  a  long  time  before  the  first 
organ  was  put  in,  was  led  by  the  venerable  Benjamin  Flagg, 
with  his  well  remembered  bass  viol,  and  his  brother  John  on 
the  tenor  viol.  For  a  year  before  the  first  organ  was  put  in, 
and  seven  years  afterwards,  Wm.  Sumner  was  conductor  and 
organist,  and  the  late  Osgood  Collester  succeeded  him  for  sev- 
eral years.  There  was  then  congregational  singing,  led  by 
F.  H.  Knight  and  others,  till  the  new  organ  was  put  in,  in 
1868,  from  which  time  A.  L.  Barr,  Henry  S.  Rice  and  J.  D. 
Moore  were  successively  organists,  till  the  present  year,  C.  P. 
Morrison  being  now  organist  and  conductor. 


Other   Churches. 

Li  the  course  of  the  sixty-five  years  from  1812  to  1877,  tlie 
number  of  churches  in  Worcester  has  increased  from  tliree  to 
thirty-three,  divided  among  the  different  denominations' as  fol- 
lows, a  more  particular  account  of  each  and  of  their  places  of 
worship,  being  deferred  till  another  time  : 

Trinitarian  Congregational — Eight  Churches  :  1st,  (Old  South,)  organ- 
ized in  1716;  2d,  Calvinist  (Central),  organized  August  17,  1820,  the  suc- 
cessive pastors  being  Revs.  Loammi  Ives  Hoadley  to  1830,  David  Peabody  to 
1835,  John  S.  C.  Abbott  to  1838,  and  Dr.  Seth  Sweetser,  39  years  to  the 
present  time,  Rev.  Horace  E.  Barnes  serving  as  colleague  for  one  year  from 
November,  1875  ;  3d,  the  Union  Church,  organized  February  3,  183G, 
the  successive  pastors  being  Rev.  Jonathan  E.  Woodbridge  to  1838,  Dr. 
Elam  Smalley  to  1854,  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Cutler,  22  years  to  the  pres- 
ent time;  4th,  Salem  street  Church,  organized  June  14,  1848,  the  suc- 
cessive pastors  being  Revs.  George  Bashnell  to  1858,  Merrill  Richardson  to 
1871,  and  Charles  M.  Lamson,  six  years  to  the  present  time  ;  5th,  Plj^mouth 
Church,  organized  July  7,  1809,  their  first  pastor,  Rev.   George  Whitefield 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  167 

Phillips,  being  now  in  his  seventh  year  of  service  ;  6th,  Piedmont  Church, 
organized  Sept.  18,  1872,  Rev.  Dr.  George  H.  Gould,  pastor  ;  7th,  Tabernacle 
Church,  organized  April  15,  1874,  Rev.  V^^m.  M.  Parry,  pastor;  8th,  Sum- 
mer street  Mission,  first  organized  as  a  church  Jan.  22,  18G5,  with  Rev. 
Wm.  T.  Sleeper  now  pastor,  but  there  has  been  regular  preaching  there  for 
twenty-two  years  by  him.  Rev.  Samuel  Souther,  and  Rev.  Henry  T.  Clieever 
and  Rev.  C,  M.  Whitney. 

Unitarian  Congregational — Two  Churches  :  1st,  organized  December  1, 
1785  ;  2d,  Church  of  the  Unity,  organized  Jan.  31,  1840,  the  successive  pas- 
tors being  Revs.  Edward  E.  Hale  to  185G,  Rush  R.  Shippen  to  1871,  and 
Henry  Blanchard,  the  latter  settled  May  4,  1873. 

Baptist— Fowr  Churches:  1st,  organized  Dec.  9,  1812;  2d,  Pleasant 
street,  organized  Dec.  28,  1841,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  John  Jen- 
nings, Charles  K.  Colver,  D.  W.  Faunce,  J.  J.  Tucker,  David  Weston,  I. 
R.  Wheelock  and  S.  L.  ilolman  ;  3d,  Main  street,  organized  July,  1853, 
the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  H.  L.  Wayland,  Dr.  Joseph  Banvard, 
George  B.  Gow  and  F.  W.  Bakeman  ;  4th,  Dewey  street  Chapel,  organized 
in  1872,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  L.  M.  Sargent  and  D.  P.  Lamson, 
the  latter  since  1873. 

Methodist  Episcopal — Seven  Churches,  (including  Zion  and  Bethel,  color- 
ed) :  1st,  Trinity,  (formerly  Park  street),  organized  Feb.  18,  1834,  the  suc- 
cessive pastors  being  Revs.  Joseph  A.  Merrill,  George  Pickering,  John  T. 
Burrill,  James  Porter,  Jotham  Horton,  Moses  L.  Scudder,  Miner  Raymond, 
Charles  K.  True,  Amos  Binney,  Jonathan  D.  Bridge,  Loranus  Crowell,N. 
E.  Cobleigh,Z.  A.  Mudge,  D.  E.  Chapin,  F.  H.  Newhall,  Chester  Field,'  J. 
H.  Twombly,  J.  W.  Dadman,  D.  E.  Chapin,  J.  H.  Mansfield,  C.  N.  Smith, 
W.  F.  Mallalieu,  Ira  G.  Bidwell,  V.  A.  Cooper,  A.  B.  Kendig  ;  2d,  Laurel 
street,  organized  July  20,  1845,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  Richard 
S.  Rust,  J.  W.  Mowry,  George  Dunbar,  F.  A.  Griswold,  C.  L.  Eastman, 
Wm.  Mann,  D.  H.  Higgins,  J.  W.  Lewis,  J.  W.  Mowry,  H.  W.  Warren, 
Ichabod  Marcy,  Samuel  Kelley,  J.  C.  Cromack,  Jefferson  Hascall,  T.  W. 
Lewis,  Samuel  Kelley,  A.  Carroll,  Wm.  Pentecost,  H.  D.  Weston,  and  Wm. 
Pentecost,  the  latter  being  now  in  his  eighth  year  of  service  in  Worcester  ; 
3d,  Zion's  Church,  organized  in  1846,  their  successive  pastors  being  Revs. 
Alexander  Posey,  J.  N.  Mars,  R.  R.  Morris,  Peter  Ross,  Joseph  Hicks, 
Joseph  G.  Smith,  Thomas  A.  Davis,  Allen  Walker,  Peter  Ross  and  J.  Wesley 
Brown  ;  4th,  W^ebster  Square,  organized  in  April,  1860,  their  successive  pas- 
tors being  Revs.  Daniel  Dorchester,  Wm.  Gordon,  Wm.  Pentecost,  E.  W. 
Virgin,  Pliny  Wood,  C.  II.  Hanaford,  R.  C.  Parsons,  E.  A.  Titus  and 
V.  M.  Simons;  5th,B3thel,  organized  in  1867,  the  successive  pastors  being 
Revs.  P.  L.  Sanford,  E.  T.  Williams  and  J.  B.  Hill  ;  6th,  Grace  Church, 
organized  May  5,  1867,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  J.  0.  Peck,  A. 
McKeown,  J.  0.  Knowles,  C.  D.  Hills  and  George  S.  Chadbourne  ;  7th,  Coral 
street,  organized  in  1872,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  E.  S.  Chase  and 
H.  D.  Weston. 

Roman  Catholic— i^ive  Churches:  1st,  St.  John's,  organized  in  1834  un- 
der Rev.  James  Fitton,  succeeded  by  Revs.  A.  Williamson.  M.  W.  Gibson, 
J.  A.  McAvoy,  John  Boyce,  P.  T.  O'Reilly,  Thomas  Griffin  and  Thomas  J.' 
Conaty,  the  two  latter  having  officiated  as  chief  and  assistant  since  Rev.  Mr. 
O'Reilly  was  chosen  bishop  ;  2d,  St.  Anne's  Church,  organized  in  1855,  the 
successive  pastors  being  Revs.  John  J.  Power,  Wm.  A.  Power  and  Dennis 
Scannell ;  3d,  St.  Paul's,  organized  in  1869,  pastor.  Rev.  J.  J.  Power,  assist- 
ant, Rev.  Daniel  H.  O'Neil;  4th,  Notre  Dame  des  Canadiens,  organized  in 
1869,  Rev.  J.  B.  Primeau,  pastor;  5th,  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, organized  1874,  pastor.  Rev.  Robert  Walsh. 


168  Reminiscences  of  Worcester, 

Protestant  Episcopal — Two  Churches:  1st,  All  Saints',  first  meeting 
held  Dee.  13,  1835,  bj  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Vaill,  the  succeeding  pastors  be- 
ing Revs.  F.  0.  Putnam,  Dr.  George  T.  Chapman,  George  H.  Clark,  Nathan- 
iel T.  Bent,  A.  M.  Morrison,  Dr.  Wm,  H.  Brooks,  A.  C.  Patterson,  E.  W. 
Hagar,  and  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Huntington,  the  latter  being  now  in  his  sixteenth 
year  of  service  ;  2d,  St.  Matthew's  Chapel,  organized  in  1871,  the  successive 
pastors  being  Revs.  Henry  McKay  and  Amos  Skeele. 

Other  denominations  have  one  church  each,  as  follows : 

Uniyersaltst, — Society  formed  June  3,  1841.  Church  organized  Nov.  21, 
1843,  the  successive  pastors  being  Revs.  S.  P.  Landers  to  1844,  Alltort  Case 
to  1849,  0.  H.  Tillotson  to  1852,  J.  G.  Adams  to  18G0,  L.  M.  Burrington  to 
1862,  T.  E.  St.  John  to  1866,  B.  P.  Bowles  to  1868,  T.  E.  St.  John  to  the 
present  time,  the  latter  being  now  in  his  thirteenth  year  of  service. 

Society  of  Friends — began  holding  meetings  in  1837,  and  built  their 
meeting-house  in  1846. 

Second  Advent — began  holding  meetings  in  1840,  church  organized  in 
1850;  the  successive  pastors  being  Elders  George  AV.  Needham,  John  S. 
White,  D.  T.  Taylor,  Geo.  AY.  Burnham,  Albion  Ross,  and  S.  G.  Matthew- 
son. 

Disciples  of  Christ — organized  in  1860,  by  Elders  W.  A.  S.  Smyth  and 
P.  Blaisdell,  and  the  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Alanson  AYilcox,  J.  M.  Atwa- 
ter  and  Wm.  Rowsee. 

New  Jerusalem — organized  in  1874,  Walter  Gates,  leader. 

The  North  End  Baptist  Mission — established  by  representatives  of  the 
different  Baptist  churches  in  the  city,  as  the  nucleus  of  a  new  Baptist  church 
in  that  section,  began  holding  regular  religious  services  Aug.  1,  1875,  in 
Bang's  Block,  oppijsite  the  Court  House,  conducted  by  Rev.  S.  L.  Holman 
and  others. 

Free  Church — organized  in  1852  ;  Rev.  T.  W.  Higginson  was  pastor  for 
about  six  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  A.  VV^asson  who  officiated 
several  months,  and  subsequently  the  society  became  merged  into  a  spirit- 
ualist organization,  and  they  have  continued  to  hold  public  meetings  and 
seances  to  the  present  time. 

Besides  the  above  there  have  been  regular  services  by  differ- 
ent resident  clergymen  of  the  city  at  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital 
and  Jail  chapels. 


WORCESTER  HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  ISTL 


^"^r-h:^  P-^<f^ Pz^^: P--^^^. .^'^-^'^^!^-kr^^^ .^^^^<^W 


SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOL  HOUSES, 


CHAPTER     XI. 


The  First  Schools. 
The  earliest  practical  action  taken  by  the  founders  of  the 
town  toward  the  establisliment  of  common  schools,  was  April 
4,  1726,  when  Maj.  Jonas  Eice,  the  first  permanent  settler,  was 
appointed  the  first  school-teacher,  he  being  engaged  by  the 
selectmen  of  that  year,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Moore,  Dea.  Daniel 
Heywood,  James  Taylor,  Moses  Leonard,  and  Benjamin  Flagg, 
Jr.,  "  to  teach  children  and  youth  to  read  and  write  as  ye  law 
directs,  until  ye  fifteenth  day  of  December  ensuing."     May  25, 

1727,  James  Holden,  Moses  Leonard,  Henry  Lee,  John  Hub- 
bard, and  John  Stearns  were  chosen  a  "  committee  to  provide 
a  school-master  for  one  year,"  they  being  the  first  school  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  town,  the  duties  entrusted  to  them  be- 
ing in  those  days  often  performed  by  the   selectmen.     Jan.  15, 

1728,  the  sum  of  <£16.  lOs.  was  voted  for  the  support  of  schools, 
a  portion  of  this  sum  being  for  the  payment  of  a  fine  imposed 
on  "  presentment"  by  the  grand  jury  for  not  complying  with 
the  law  previous  year.  May  23, 1728,  Benjamin  Flagg,  Jr., 
Palmer  Goulding  and  Daniel  Hubbard  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  "  provide  a  school-master  for  the  year  ensuing."  March 
31,  1729,  the  selectmen,  that  day  chosen,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Moore, 
Judge  William  Jennison,  James  Holden,  Dea.  Daniel  Hey- 
wood and  Zephaniah  Rice,  were  instructed  to  provide  a  school- 
master, and  in  May,  engaged  Benjamin  Flagg,  Jr.,  to  act  in  that 
capacity  till  December   15,  following.     The   latter  year,  £14 

22 


170  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

were  raised  for  the  support  of  schools,  incliidiiig  allowance  for 
previous  arrearages. 

April  13,  1731,  five  school  districts  were  formed,  one 
in  the  centre  and  four  others  in  the  north,  south,  east, 
and  west  divisions  of  the  territory,  and  the  selectmen  were  in- 
structed to  "procure  a  suitable  number  of  young  dames,  not 
exceeding  five  for  the  teaching  of  small  children."  In  1732, 
Richard  Rogers  was  engaged,  and  taught  eight  years,  holding 
his  schools  at  different  dwellings  in  circuit  around  the  town^ 
X50  a  year  being  voted  to  him  for  his  services,  which  began 
September  1,  Maj.  Jonas  Rice  officiating  again  in  that  capacity 
for  four  months  from  May  1,  1732,  until  Mr.  Rogers  took  hold. 

May  25,  1733,  the  first  action  was  taken  toward  the  erection 
of  a  school-house  ;  it  was  then  voted  that  "  a  school-house  be 
built  in  the  centre  of  the  south  half,"  [Holden  was  then  the 
north  half  or  precinct,  and  Worcester  proper  tlie  south  half  of 
the  original  township,]  and  "that  Col.  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  be 
the  surveyor  to  find  the  centre  of  said  south  half,  and  Lieut. 
Henry  Lee,  Maj.  Jonas  Rice  and  James  Moore  be  a  committee 
to  assist  him."  It  was  also  "  voted,  that  said  house  be  21  feet 
long,  16  feet  wide  and  7  feet  stud,  to  be  completely  finished 
with  good  chimney  glass,  at  the  discretion  of  a  committee  to 
be  appointed,  and  that  Maj.  Daniel  Heywood,  Benjamin  Flagg 
and  Ebenezer  Stearns  be  a  committee  to  see  the  house  erected, 
as  they  shall  think  most  to  the  advantage  of  the  town,  and  that 
they  provide  suitable  tables  and  benches  for  ye  scholars." 

The  ample  period  of  five  years  was  occupied  in  considering 
this  matter  before  further  action,  as  it  appears  by  the  record, 
that  at  a  town  meeting  held  May  15, 1738,"  John  Chandler,  Jr., 
Esq.,  surveyor,  and  ye  committee  appointed  to  find  where  the 
centre  line  will  strike  the  country  road  in  order  to  build  a  school- 
house  there  or  as  near  as  may  be  [to  such  a  point]  in  some 
suitable  jdace,  reported,  and  the  town  voted  :  That  ye  commit- 
tee formerly  appointed  (or  those  of  them  that  still  live  in  the 
town)  erect  and  build  a  school-house  at  or  near  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  estate  of  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  Esq.,  where  he  now 
dwells,  and  as  his  fence  now  stands,  and  that  the  charge  there- 
for be  paid  out  of  the  surplus  money  now  in  the   hands  of  the 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  171 

This  location  was  changed  by  vote,  three  weeks 
later,  to  a  spot  described  "between  the  Court  House  and 
bridge  below  the  fulling  mill,"  indicating  a  point  near  the  mid- 
dle of  Lincoln  Square,  nearly  in  front  of  the  present  Antiqua- 
rian Hall,  whore  the  house  was  accordingly  built,  and  the  old 
structure  remained  there  till  toward  the  close  of  the  century. 
The  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  surveyor,  here  referred  to,  was  the  son 
of  the  first  Judge,  who  soon  after  that  succeeded  himself  to  the 
judicial  functions,  his  residence  and  homestead  estate  compris- 
ing the  five  hundred  acres  east  and  south-east  of  Lincoln  Square, 
which  so  long  remained  in  the  family,  the  old  dwelling  house 
on  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Hon. 
Edward  Earle. 

One  of  the  first  teachers  in  this  first  school-house  was  Rev. 
William  Jennison,  nephew  of  Judge  Jennison,  and  great-grand- 
father of  the  late  Samuel  and  William  Jennison  of  Worcester. 

Li  1740,  the  sum  of  XlOO  was  appropriated  for  the  support 
of  the  schools,  one-half  of  it  for  the  centre  district,  on  condition 
that  a  Grrammar  School  be  sustained  in  the  latter  to  "  save  the 
town  from  presentment,"  and  a  writing  master  be  employed  for 
the  year  in  the  circuit  of  the  outer  districts.  But  the  full  re- 
quirements of  the  law  in  regard  to  maintaining  a  Grammar 
School  do  not  seem  to  have  been  carried  into  effect  until  1752, 
when  the  first  Grammar  or  High  School,  for  instruction  in  the 
languages,  was  established,  a  building  for  that  special  purpose 
being  afterwards  erected  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  near 
the  north  corner  of  Mechanic  street.*  It  was  an  luimble  one 
story  structure,  afterwards  converted  into  a  dwelling  by  Thomas 
Johnson.  After  the  revolution,  a  more  commodious  structure 
for  the  purpose  was  erected  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street, 
afterwards  known  as  the  Centre  School  House. 

*  It  is  a  matter  of  uncertainty  at  what  precise  time  this  building  was  put 
up.  Previous  to  its  being  erected,  of  course  the  Grammar  School  then  estab- 
lished must  have  been  kept  in  the  old  school-house  "  between  the  Court  House 
and  bridge"  at  Lincoln  Square,  and  John  Adams  must  have  officiated  there, 
instead  of  in  the  building  erected,  specially  for  the  Grammar  School,  (as 
stated  on  page  91,)  provided  the  latter  structure  was  not  erected  till  after 
he  taught  here.  Judging  from  his  description  of  his  school,  during  his  lirst 
year  at  least,  it  must  have  included  the  elementary  as  well  as  higher 
branches  of  instruction. 


172  Remi7iiscences   of  Worcester, 

At  the  annual  March  meeting  in  1742,  it  was  voted  that  nine 
months  of  the  schooling  be  divided  among  the  four  quarters  of 
the  town,  described  as  Dr.  Moore's,  Thomas  Parker's,  Henry 
Lee's,  and  Elisha  Smith's,  the  other  three  months  in  the  school- 
house  then  just  built  at  the  centre. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1749,  the  committee  appointed  to 
fix  places  for  erecting  school-houses  in  the  four  outer  quarters 
of  the  town,  made  a  report,  which  was  accepted,  locating  them 
as  follows  :  East  quarter,  between  Capt.  (afterwards  Col.)  Ben- 
jamin Flagg's  and  Matthias  Stearns,  (probably  near  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  Gates'  school-house)  ;  west  quarter,  "  ye 
crotch  of  the  path  between  Nathaniel  Moore,  Jr.,  and  Wm. 
Elder's,"  probably  not  far  from  Qunsigamond  Tillage,  or  the 
district  afterwards  known  as  Pakachoag  ;  north  quarter,  "  near 
Lieut.  Fisk's,"  taking  in  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Adams 
Square,  etc. 

The  number  and  location  of  the  seven  districts  in  1760,  when 
the  total  appropriation  for  schools  was  X80,  were  as  follows, 
with  the  proportion  allowed  to  each:  Centre,  =£36.  8s.  4d.  ; 
Tatnuck,  X9.  16s.  lid.  ;  Smith  quarter,  X7.  5s. ;  Curtis',  at 
North-east,  X5.  7s.  ;  Harrington's,  X6.  14s.  ;  Pakachoag,  £9  ; 
Stone's,  X5.  8s.  9d. 

In  1769  the  total  appropriation  of  X78.  17s.  was  divided 
among  the  eight  districts  as  follows:  Centre,  £19  ;  Tatnuck, 
XIO.  10s.  ;  Smith  quarter,  £9.  8s.  ;  Pakachoag,  £S.  8s.  ; 
Stone's  quarter,  X8.  5s. ;  Stowell's,  (Sagatabscot  Hill)  ;  £S. 
3s. ;  Capt.  Curtis',  £1.  lis.  ;  Capt.  Flagg's,  (corner  of  Planta- 
tion street  and  Bloomingdale  road,)  £1.  lis. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  1774,  £100  were  appropriated  for 
schools,  and  Hon.  Timothy  Paine  chosen  to  provide  for  the 
Grammar  (high)  school-master,  and  the  following  gentlemen 
for  the  English  schools  in  their  respective  divisions  :  William 
Young,  Daniel  Bigelow,  William  Gates,  David  Bancroft,  Jona- 
than Stone,  David  Chadwick  and  Joseph  Barber. 

The  vote  by  which  the  first  Grammar  School  was  established 
in  1752,  required  the  inhabitants  of  the  centre  district,  extend- 
ing one  mile  and  a  half  around  the  centre,  to  keep  a  Grammar 
School  the  whole  year.     The  deficiency  of  the  public  grants  for 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  173 

instruction  therein  was  made  up  by  subscription  among  the 
leadino'  citizens  of  the  town  who  had  been  instrumental  in  startino; 
the  enterprise,  foremost  among  whom  were  Attorney  General 
James  Putnam,  Judge  John  Chandler,  and  his  brother  the  sheriff. 
The  establisliment  of  tliis  institution  was  probably  the  nucleus 
of  what  was  afterwards  known  as  tlie  Centre  District  School 
System,  which  accomplished  so  much  for  public  instruction  in 
Worcester  fifty  and  seventy-five  years  ago,  and  earlier,  under 
the  lead  of  the  Lincolns,  Aliens,  Dr.  Dix,  Dr.  Green,  Dr.  Ban- 
croft, Dr.  Going,  Thcophilus  Wheeler,  Benjamin  Chapin,  Sam- 
uel Jennison,  Frederick  W.  Paine,  S.  M.  Burnside  and  others. 

President  John  Adams  as  a  Worcester  School  Master. 

In  this  connection  a  few  reminiscences  concerning  the  time 
when  John  Adams,  afterwards  president  of  the  United  States, 
taught  the  Latin  Grammar  School  in  Worcester,  between  1755 
and  1758,  may  be  interesting.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  first 
entry  upon  his  diary  which  he  so  long  kept,  through  so  many 
public  vicissitudes  in  a  life-time  extending  to  nearly  ninety 
years,  was  made  in  Worcester,  Nov.  18,  1755,  some  three 
months  after  he  had  begun  his  school  here,  and  is  in  these 
words : 

"  In  the  public  exercises  of  commencement  I  was  somewhat  remarked  as  a 
respondent,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty  of  Worcester,  who  was  empowered 
by  the  Selectmen  of  that  town  to  procure  them  a  Latin  master  for  the  Gram- 
mar School,  engaged  me  to  undertake  it.  About  three  weeks  after  com- 
mencement in  1755,  when  not  twenty  years  of  age,  a  horse  was  sent  from 
Worcester,  and  a  man  to  attend  me.  We  made  the  journey  (from  Braintree 
to  Worcester)  sixty  miles,  in  one  day,  and  I  entered  on  my  office.  For  three 
months  I  boarded  with  one  Greene,  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  and  by  the 
agreement  of  the  Selectmen,  Here  I  found  Morgan's  Moral  Philosophy, 
which  I  found  had  circulated  with  some  freedom  in  that  town,  and  that  the 
principles  of  Deism  had  made  considerable  progress  among  persons  in  that 
and  other  towns  in  the  county." 

The  Greene,  above  referred  to  with  whom  John  Adams 
boarded,  was  Maj.  Nathaniel  Greene,  and  his  residence  was 
on  the  westerly  side  of  Main  street,  opposite  the  present  Central 
Exchange.  He  was  one  of  the  town  committee  with  John 
Chandler  and  Luke  Brown  to  see  the  vote  of  March,  1852,  car- 
ried into  effect  in  regard  to  maintaining  the  Grammar  School ; 
the  committee  in  charge  of  the  other  schools  in  their  respective 


174  Reminiscences  of    Worcester, 

localities  in  different  sections  of  the  town  tliat  year  being  John 
Boyden,  on  Pakachoag  Hill ;  Nathaniel  Adams,  near  Lake 
Quinsgamond  ;  James  Howe  ;  Robert  Barber,  in  the  north  sec- 
tion of  the  town  ;  Capt.  James  Moore,  probably  near  Tatnuck  ; 
and  Noah  Jones,  near  New  Worcester. 

John  Adams'  Description  of  His  Situation  Here. 

Immediately  after  he  had  taken  his  degree  of  A.  B.  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  August,  1755,  upon  his  contracting  the  engagement 
to  keep  the  school  at  Worcester,  John  Adams  had  promised  his 
friend,  Judge  Richard  Cranch,  of  Boston,  that  he  would  write 
him  an  account  of  the  situation  of  his  mind  alter  he  had  enter- 
ed upon  his  new  career  as  a  school-master,  and  the  following 
letter,  in  response  thereto,  from  Worcester,  is  the  earliest  pro_ 
duction  extant  of  the  school-master  statesman's  pen  : 

Worcester,  2  September,  1755. 

Dear  Sir : — I  promised  to  write  you  an  account  of  the  situation  of  my 
mind.  The  natural  strength  of  my  faculties  is  quite  insufficient  for  the 
task.  Attend,  therefore,  to  the  invocation,  0  thou  goddess,  muse,  or  what- 
ever is  thy  name,  who  inspired  immortal  Milton's  pen  with  a  confusion  ten 
thousand  times  confounded,  when  describing  Satan's  voyage  through  chaos, 
help  me,  in  the  same  cragged  strains,  to  singthingsunattemptedyet  in  prose 
or  rhyme.  When  the  nimble  hours  have  tackled  Apollo's  coursers,  and  the 
gay  deity  mounts  the  eastern  sky,  the  gloomy  pedagogue  arises,  frowning 
and  lowering  like  a  black  cloud  begrimmed  with  uncommon  wrath  to  blast  a 
devoted  land.  When  the  destined  time  arrives,  he  enters  upon  action,  and 
as  a  haughty  monarch  ascends  his  throne,  the  pedagogue  mounts  his  awful 
^reat  chmr,  and  dispenses  right  and  justice  through  his  whole  empire.  His 
obsequious  subjects  execute  the  imperial  mandates  with  cheerfulness, 
and  think  it  their  high  happiness  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  em- 
peror. Sometimes  paper,  sometimes  his  penknife,  now  birch,  now  Arith- 
metic, now  a  ferule,  then  A,  B,  C,  then  scolding,  then  flattering,  then 
thwacking  calls  for  the  pedagogue's  attention.  At  length,  his  spirits  all 
exhausted,  down  comes  pedagogue  from  his  throne,  and  walks  out  in  solemn 
solemnity,  through  a  cringing  multitude.  In  the  afternoon  he  passes 
through  the  same  dreadful  scenes,  smokes  his  pipe,  and  goes  to  bed, 

The  situation  of  the  town  is  quite  pleasant,  and  the  inhabitants,  as  far  as 
I  have  had  opportunity  to  know  their  character,  are  a  sociable,  generous 
and  hospitable  people  ;  but  the  school  is  indeed  a  school  of  afiliction.  A  large 
number  of  little  rantlings,  just  capable  of  lisping  A,  B,  C,  and  troubling  the 
master.  But  Dr.  Savil  tells  me,  for  my  comfort,  "  by  cultivating  and  prun- 
ing these  tender  plants  in  the  garden  of  Worcester,  I  shall  make  some  of 
them  plants  of  renown  and  cedars  of  Lebanon."  However  this  be  I  am  cer- 
tain that  keeping  this  school  any  length  of  time  would  make  a  base  weed 
and  ignoble  shrub  of  me.  Pray,  write  me  the  first  time  you  are  at  leisure, 
A  letter  from  you  would  balance  the  inquietude  of  school-keeping.  Dr. 
Savil  will  pack  it  with  his,  and  convey  it  to  me.     When  you   see   friend 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  175 

Quincy,*  conjure  him  by  all  the  muses  to  write  me  a  letter.  Tell  him  that 
all  the  conversation  I  have  had  since  I  left  Braintree  is  dry  disputes  upon 
politics  and  rural  obscene  wit ;  therefore,  that  a  letter  written  in  that 
elegance  of  style  and  delicacy  of  humor  which  characterize  all  his  perform- 
ances, would  come  with  the  additional  charm  of  rarity,  and  contribute  more 
than  anything  (except  a  letter  from  you)  towards  making  a  happy  being  of 
me  once  more.  To  tell  you  a  secret,  I  don't  know  how  to  conclude  neatly 
without  invoking  assistance ;  but  as  truth  has  a  higher  place  in  your  esteem 
than  any  ingenious  conceit,  I  shall  please  you,  as  well  as  myself  most,  by 
subscribing  myself.  Your  affectionate  friend,  John  Adams. 

*Thi3  was  the  first  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy. 

Ill  his  successive  entries  in  his  diary,  while  in  Worcester, 
Schoolmaster  Adams  notes  the  manner  in  which  he  passed  his 
time,  what  books  he  read,  his  attendance  upon  the  preaching  of 
Kev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty  and  others  at  the  Old  South  Church, 
then  the  only  church  in  the  place,  and  mentions  his  frequent 
visits  at  the  residences  of  the  leading  families,  dining,  taking 
tea,  spending  the  evening,  etc.,  at  Major  Gardner  and  Col.  John 
Chandler's,  James  Putnam's,  Dr.  Nahum  Willard's,  Maj. 
Greene's,  Mr.  Maccarty's  and  Timothy  Paine's,^and  especially  at 
Major  Gardner  Chandler's,  with  whom  he  says  he  was  most  in- 
timate.    Here  is  a  specimen  for  the  month  of  February,  175G: 

"  Friday,  Feb.  13.  Supped  at  Major  Chandler's,  and  engaged  to  keep 
school  at  Bristol,  provided  VV^orcester  people  at  tlieir  ensuing  March  meeting 
should  change  this  into  a  moving  school,  not  otherwise.  Major  Greene,  this 
evening,  fell  into  some  conversation  with  me  about  the  divinity  and  satisfac- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ.  All  the  argument  he  advanced  was,  that  '  a  mere 
creature  or  finite  being  could  not  make  satisfaction  to  infinite  justice  for  any 
crimes,'  and  that  '  these  things  are  very  mysterious.'  Thus  mystery  is  made 
a  convenient  cover  for  absurdity." 

IIis  Description  of   Worcester. 

Next,  he  has  the  following  description  of  the  general  ap- 
pearance presented  by  Worcester,  then  a  town  of  some  fifteen 
hundred  inhabitants  : 

"  I  take  great  pleasure  in  viewing  and  examining  the  magnificent  prospects 
of  nature  that  lie  before  us  in  this  town.  If  I  cast  my  eyes  one  way,  I  am 
entertained  with  the  savage  unsightly  appearance  of  naked  woods  and  leaf- 
less forests.  In  another  place  a  chain  of  broken  and  irregular  mountains 
throws  my  mind  into  a  pleasing  kind  of  astonishment.  But  if  I  turn  myself 
round,  I  perceive  a  wide  extensive  tract  before  me  made  up  of  woods  and 
meadows,  wandering  streams  and  barren  plains,  covered  in  various  places  by 
herds  of  grazing  cattle,  and  terminated  by  the  distant  view  of  the  town." 

A  few  days  later,  under  the  date  of  Wednesday,  February 
18,  he  pens  the  following  moral  and  religious  reflections  in  con- 
nection with  a  visit  made  that  evening : 


17G  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

*'  spent  an  hour  in  the  beginning  of  the  evening  at  Major  Chandler's, 
where  it  was  thought  that  the  design  of  Christianity  was  not  to  make  men 
good  riddle-solvers,  or  good  mystery-mongers,  but  good  men,  good  magis- 
trates, and  good  subjects,  good  husbands  and  good  wives,  good  parents  and 
good  children,  good  masters  and  good  servants.  The  following  questions 
may  be  answered  some  time  or  other,  namely  :  where  do  we  find  a  percept 
in  the  gospel,  requiring  ecclesiastical  synods,  convocations,  councils,  decrees, 
creeds,  confessions,  oaths,  subscriptions,  and  the  whole  cart-loads  of  other 
trumpery  that  we  find  religion  encumbered  with  in  these  days?  " 

His  Description  of  His  School. 
March  15,  1756,  he  has  tlie  following  lively  description   of 
his  school,  with  suggestive  reflections  thereon : 

"  I  sometimes  in  my  sprightly  moments  consider  myself  in  my  great  chair 
at  school  as  some  dictator  at  the  head  of  a  Commonwealth.  In  this  little 
state  I  can  discover  all  the  great  geniuses,  all  the  surprising  actions  and  re- 
volutions of  the  great  world,  in  miniature.  I  have  several  renowned  gener- 
als but  three  feet  high,  and  several  deep  projecting  politicians  in  petticoats. 
I  have  others  catching  and  dissecting  flies,  accumulating  remarkable  pebbles, 
cockle  shells,  etc.,  with  as  ardent  curiosity  as  any  virtuoso  in  the  Royal 
Society.  Some  rattle  and  thunder  out  A,  B,  C,  etc.,  with  as  much  fire  and 
impetuosity  as  Alexander  fought,  and  very  often  sit  down,  and  cry  as  heart- 
ily upon  being  outspelt,  as  Ca3sar  did  when  at  Alexander's  sepulchre  he  re- 
collected that  the  Macedonian  hero  conquered  the  world  before  his  age.  At 
one  table  sits  Mr.  Insipid,  foppling  and  fluttering,  spinning  his  whirligig,  or 
playing  with  his  fingers,  as  gaily  and  wittily  as  any  Frenchified  coxcomb 
brandishes  his  cane  or  rattles  his  snufi"  box.  At  another  sits  the  polemical 
divine,  plodding  and  wrangling  in  his  mind  about  '  Adam's  fall  in  which  we 
sinned  all,'  as  his  primer  has  it.  In  short,  my  little  school,  like  the  great 
world,  is  made  up  of  kings,  politicians,  divines,  LL.  Ds.,  fops,  bufibons,  fid- 
dlers, sycophants,  fools,  coxcombs,  chimney  sweepers  and  every  other  char- 
acter drawn  in  history,  or  seen  in  the  world.  Is  it  not  then  the  highest 
pleasure  to  preside  in  this  little  world,  to  bestow  the  proper  applause  upon 
virtuous  and  generous  actions,  to  blame  and  punish  every  vicious  and  con- 
tracted trick,  to  tear  out  of  the  tender  mind  everything  that  is  mean  and 
little,  and  fire  the  new-born  soul  with  a  noble  ardor  and  emulation  ?  The 
world  aSbrds  no  greater  pleasure.  Let  others  waste  their  bloom  of  life  at 
the  card  or  billiard  table  among  rakes  and  fools,  and  when  their  minds  are 
sufficiently  fretted  with  losses,  and  influenced  by  wine,  ramble  through  the 
streets,  assaulting  innocent  people,  breaking  windows,  or  debauching  young 
girls.  I  had  rather  sit  in  school,  and  consider  which  of  my  people  will  turn 
out  in  his  future  life  a  hero,  and  which  a  rake,  which  a  philosopher,  and 
which  a  parasite,  than  change  breasts  with  them,  though  possessed  of  twen- 
ty laced  waist-coats  and  a  thousand  pounds  a  year.  Methinks  I  hear  you 
say,  This  is  odd  talk  for  John  Adams  !  I'll  tell  you,  then,  the  occasion  of 
it :  About  four  months  since,  a  poor  girl  in  this  neighborhood,  walking 
by  the  meeting-house  upon  some  occasion  in  the  evening,  met  a  fine  gentle- 
man with  laced  hat  and  waist-coat  and  a  sword,  who  solicited  her  to  turr> 
aside  with  him  into  the  horse  sheds.  The  girl  relucted  a  little,  upon  which 
he  gave  her  three  guineas  that  proved  three  farthings,  and  the  girl  proved 
with  child,  without  a  friend  upon  earth  that  will  own  her,  or  knowing  the 
father  of  her  three-farthinfr  bastard." 


Reminiscence  of  Worcester.  177 

Thursday,  April  15,  he  has  the  following  entry  concerning 
the  religious  views  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  that 
time  in  Worcester,  with  whom  he  had  spent  the  evening  : 

"  Drank  tea,  and  spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Putnam's,  conversing  with  him 
concerning  Christianity.  lie  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  apostles  vv'erea  com- 
pany of  enthusiasts.  He  says  that  v^e  have  only  their  word  to  prove  that 
they  spoke  with  different  tongues,  raised  the  dead,  healed  the  sick,  etc." 

In  his  autobiography  occurs  the  following  passage  concern- 
ing his  relations  with  Mr.  Putnam,  with  whom  he  afterwards 
boarded,  while  studying  law  here  : 

"  At  breakfast,  dinner  and  tea,  Mr.  Putnam  was  commonly  disputing 
with  me  some  question  of  religion.  Although  he  would  argue  to  the  extent 
of  his  learning  and  ingenuity  to  destroy  or  invalidate  the  evidences  of  a  future 
state,  and  the  principles  of  natural  and  revealed  religion,  yet  I  could  plainly 
perceive  that  he  could  not  convince  himself  that  death  was  an  endless  sleep." 

Sunday,  April  25,  his  youthful  mind  gives  vent  in  his  diary 
to  the  following  religious  and  philosophical  reflections  which 
show  that  the  future  president,  while  of  a  strongly  religious 
and  conscientious  turn  of  mind,  had  very  decided  convictions 
in  opposition  to  the  old  time  Calvinistic  theology : 

"  Astronomers  tell  us  with  good  reason  that  not  only  all  the  planets  and 
satelites  in  our  solar  system,  but  all  the  unnumbered  worlds  that  revolve 
around  the  fixed  stars,  are  inhabited,  as  well  as  this  globe  of  earth.  If  this 
is  the  case,  all  mankind  are  no  more  in  comparison  with  the  whole  rational 
creation  of  God  than  a  point  to  the  orbit  of  Saturn.  Perhaps  all  those  differ- 
ent ranks  of  religious  beings  have  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  committed 
moral  wickedness.  If  so,  I  ask  a  Calvinist  whether  he  will  subscribe  to  the 
alternative,  '  either  God  Almighty  must  assume  the  respective  shapes  of  all 
these  different  species,  and  suffer  the  penalties  of  their  crimes,  in  their  stead, 
or  else  all  these  beings  must  be  consigned  to  everlasting  perdition?'  " 

His  disposition  for  revision  and  prompt  self-correction,  when 
deemed  necessary,  is  seen  in  the  following  penned  the  next  day  : 

"  Monday,  April  26.  The  reflection  I  penned  yesterday  appears  upon  the 
revision  to  be  weak  enough,  for  in  the  first  place,  we  know  not  that  the  in- 
habitants of  other  worlds  have  sinned.  Nothing  can  be  argued  in  this  man- 
ner till  it  is  proved  at  least  probable  that  all  these  species  of  rational  beings 
have  revolted  from  their  rightful  sovereign.  When  I  examine  the  little  pros- 
pect that  lies  before  me,  and  find  an  infinite  variety  of  bodies  in  one  horizon 
of  perhaps  two  miles  diameter,  and  consider  how  many  millions  of  such  pros- 
pects there  are  upon  the  surface  of  this  earth,  how  many  millions  of  globes 
there  are  within  our  view  each  of  which  has  as  many  of  these  prospects  upon 
its  own  surface  as  our  own  planet ;  how  natural  appears  the  exclamation  of 
the  Psalmist,  "  Great  and  manifold  are  thy  works,  0  Lord !"  etc. 

Under  date  of  July  21,  1756,  he  has  the  following  entry,  giv- 
ing the  key  note  to  his  studious  and  methodical  habits  : 
23 


178  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

"  lam  now  entering  on  another  year,  and  I  am  resolved  not  to  neglect  my 
time  as  I  did  last  year.  I  am  resolved  to  rise  with  the  sun,  and  to  study 
the  Scriptures  on  Thursday,  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sunday  mornings,  and  to 
study  some  Latin  author  the  other  three  mornings.  Noons  and  nights  I  in- 
tend to  read  English  authors.     This  is  my  fixed  determination." 

Under  date  of  Sunday,  Aug.  22, 1756,  he  entered  in  his  diary 
the  fact  of  his  contracting  with  Mr.  Putnam  to  study  Law,  with 
his  reasons  for  that  determination,  in  the  following  words: 

"  Yesterday  I  completed  a  contract  with  Mr.  Putnam  to  study  law,  under 
his  inspection,  for  two  years.  Necessity  drove  me  to  this  determination,  but 
my  inclination,  I  think,  was  to  preach.  However  that  would  not  do.  But 
I  set  out  with  a  firm  resolution,  I  think,  never  to  commit  am'  meannessor  in- 
justice in  the  practice  of  the  law.  The  study  and  practice  of  law,  I  am  sure, 
does  not  dissolve  the  obligations  of  morality  or  of  religion  ;  and  although  the 
reason  of  my  quitting  divinity  was  my  opinion  concerning  certain  disputed 
points  of  theology,  I  shall  not  give  reason  of  offence  to  any  in  that  profession 
by  imprudent  warmth," 

On  the  following  day,  August  23d,  he  records  that  he 
"  came  to  Mr.  Putnam's,  and  began  the  study  of  the  law"  with 
him.  During  his  remaining  two  years'  residence  in  Worces- 
ter, liis  time  was  so  closely  occupied  with  his  double  devotion 
to  his  hiw  studies  and  to  his  duties  as  a  school-master,  that  he 
found  no  time  to  give  to  his  diary.  During  the  last  portion  of 
his  first  year,  he  boarded  with  Dr.  Nahum  Willard,*  whose  re- 
sidence was  on  Park  street,  the  old  house  now  standing  in  the 
rear  of  the  French  Catholic  Church,  the  site  of  which  it  then 
occupied.  In  his  autobiography,  John  Adams  speaks  of  Dr. 
Willard  and  his  relations  with  Mr.  Putnam,  as  follows  : 

*'  This  physician  had  a  large  practice,  a  good  reputation  for  skill,  and  a 
pretty  library.  Here  were  the  works  of  Dr.  Cheyne,  Sydenham  and  others, 
and  Van  Sweten's  commentaries  on  Boerhaave.  I  read  a  good  deal  in  these 
books,  and  entertained  many  thoughts  of  becoming  physician  and  surgeon. 
But  law  attracted  my  attention  more  and  more  ;  us  I  attended  the  courts  of 
justice,  where  I  heard  Worthington,  Hawley,  Trowbridge, f  Putnam  and 
others,  I  felt  myself  irresistibly  impelled  to  make  some  efforts  to  accomplish 
my  wishes.  I  made  a  visit  to  Mr.  Putnam,  and  offered  myself  to  him.  He 
received  me  with  politeness  and  even  kindness,  took  a  few  days  to  consider 
of  it,  and  then  informed  me  that  Mrs.  Putnam  had  consented  I  should  board 

*  Dr  Nahum  Wilhird  was  son  of  Cpl.  Abijah  Willard  of  Lancaster,  and  removed,  soon  after  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution,  to  Uxbridge,  where  he  died  April  26, 1792,  aged  59.  He  was  father  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Willard,  and  grandfather  of  the  late  Dr.  George  A\illard,  who  died  in  1846.  Father,  son 
and  grandson  were  suceessivelj'  distinguished  practising  physicians  in  Uxbridge. 

tThese  were  the  leading  lawyers  of  their  time  in  the  State.  Edmund  Trowbridge,  attorney-gen- 
eral from  1749  to  1767,  and  a  judge  from  1767  till  the  revolution,  was  brother  of  James  Trow- 
bridge, who  came  to  Worcester  in  1740,  and  t-eltled  in  Trowbridgeville,  his  son  Dea.  Wm.  Trow- 
bridge succeeding  him  in  the  manufactuing  business  there,  and  giving  the  name  to  the  village, 
(see  page  43)  Joseph  Hawley,  (of  Northampon,)  was  a  distinguished  member  of  patriot  commit- 
tees in  revolutionary  times,  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  General  Court,  &c.  James  Putnam  was 
attorney  general  from  1769  to  1775. 


Rem'miscences  of  Worcester.  179 

in  the  house,  that  I  should  pay  no  more  than  the  town  allowed  for  my  lodg- 
injT;s.  and  that  I  should  pay  him  a  hundred  dollars  when  I  should  find  it  con- 
venient. I  agreed  to  his  proposals  without  hesitation,  and  immediately  took 
possession  of  his  office.  His  library  at  that  time  was  not  large  ;  but  he  had 
all  the  most  essential  law  books.  Immediately  after  I  entered  with  him, 
however,  he  sent  to  England  for  a  handsome  set  of  law  books  and  for  Lord 
Bocon's  works.  I  carried  with  me  to  Worcester  Lord  Bolingbroke's  '  Study 
and  Use  of  History,' and  his  'Patriot  King.'  These  I  had  lent  him,  and 
he  was  so  well  pleased  with  them  that  he  added  Bolingbroke's  works  to  his' 
list,  which  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  reading  the  posthumous  works  of  that 
writer  in  live  volumes.  Mr.  Burke  once  asked,  '  Who  had  read  them 
through?'  I  can  answer  that  I  read  them  through  before  1758,  and  that  I 
have  read  them  through  at  least  twice  since  that  time,  but  I  confess  without 
good.     His  argument  relative  to  the  Christian  religion  is  impious." 

Some  two  months  later,  ho  unbosoms  himself  in  the  follow- 
ing letter,  written  to  a  particular  friend  and  classmate,  Charles 
Cushing,  giving  the  reasons  for  his  choice  of  a  profession,  con- 
trary to  the   advice   of  his   friend,  recommending   him  to   the 

ministry  : 

Worcester,  October  19,  1756. 

My  friend: — I  look  upon  myself  obliged  to  give  you  the  reasons  that  in- 
duced me  to  resolve  upon  the  study  and  profession  of  the  law,  because  you 
were  so  kind  as  to  advise  me  to  a  different  profession.  When  yours  came  to 
hand,  I  had  thoughts  of  preaching,  but  the  longer  I  lived,  and  the  more  ex- 
perience I  had  of  that  order  of  men,  and  of  the  real  design  of  that  institu- 
tion, the  more  objections  I  found  in  my  own  mind  to  that  course  of  life.  I 
have  the  pleasure  to  be  acquainted  with  a  young  gentleman  of  fine  genius, 
cultivated  with  indefatigable  study,  of  a  generous  and  noble  disposition,  and 
of  the  strictest  virtue  ;  a  gentleman  who  deserves  the  countenance  of  the 
greatest  men,  and  the  charge  of  the  best  parish  in  the  province.  But  with 
these  accomplishments  he  is  despised  by  some,  ridiculed  by  others,  and  de- 
tested by  more,  only  because  he  is  suspected  of  arminianism.  And  I  have 
the  pain  to  know  more  than  one,  who  has  a  sleepy,  stupid  soul,  who  has 
spent  more  of  his  waking  hours  in  darning  his  stockings,  smoking  his  pipe, 
or  playing  with  his  fingers,  than  in  reading,  conversation,  or  reflection,  cried 
up  as  promising  young  men,  pious  and  orthodox  youths,  and  admirable 
preachers.  As  far  as  I  can  observe,  people  are  not  disposed  to  inquire  for 
piety,  integrity,  good  sense,  or  learning,  in  a  young  preacher,  but  for  stu- 
pidity (for  so  1  must  call  the  pretended  sanctity  of  some  absolute  dunces), 
irresistible  grace,  and  original  sin.  I  have  not,  in  one  expression,  exceeded 
the  limits  of  truth,  thougo  you  may  think  I  am  warm.  Could  you  advise 
me,  then,  who  you  know  has  not  the  highest  opinion  of  what  is  called 
orthodoxy,  to  engage  in  a  profession  like  this  ? 

The  students  in  the  law  are  very  numerous,  and  some  of  them,  youths  of 
whom  no  country,  no  age,  would  need  to  be  ashamed.  And  if  I  can  gain 
the  honor  of  treading  in  the  rear,  and  silently  admiring  the  noble  air  and 
gallant  achievements  of  the  foremost  rank,  I  shall  think  myself  worthy  of  a 
louder  triumph  than  if  I  had  headed  the  whole  army  of  orthodox  preachers. 

Your  friend,  Joun  Adams. 

This  may  seem  ratlier  strong  language,  but  it  must  be  recol- 
lected that  John  Adams  was  a  remarkably  positive,  as  well  as 
strong  man,  naturally,  and  the  prevailing  theology  of  that  pe- 
riod was  very  diiTcrent  from  the  orthodoxy  of  the  present  time. 


180  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Oct.  1,  1758,  John  Adams  finished  his  contract  with  Mr. 
Putnam  in  the  study  of  the  law,  and  with  the  town  of  Worces- 
ter in  school-teaching,  and  was  that  day  admitted  as  an  attor- 
ney at  the  then  session  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  in 
Worcester,  and  soon  after  began  practice  in  Boston.  His  sub- 
sequent fame  as  a  public  man,  the  world  over,  contrasts  strange- 
ly enough  with  the  expressions  which  he  penned  in  his  diary  at 
his  cliamber  in  Worcester,  April  21,  1756,  after  noting  his  ar- 
dent desires  for  more  knowledge  : 

"  But  I  have  no  books,  no  time,  no  funds.  I  must  therefore  be  contented 
to  hve  and  die  an  ignorant  obscure  fellow  !" 

Oct.  5,  175<S,  he  records  that  he  arrived  at  his  father's  home 
in  Braintree,  from  Worcester,  and  gives  the  following  interest- 
ing account  of  circumstances  transpiring  here  during  his  three 
years'  residence  in  Worcester,  which  embraced  the  most  ex- 
citing period  of  the  French  and  Indian  war,  resulting  in  tlie 
conquest  of  the  Canadas  from  the  French,  by  the  British,  du- 
ring which  war,  lasting  from  1748  to  1763,  the  town  of  Wor- 
cester furnished  453  men  for  the  service  : 

"  While  I  was  at  Worcester,  three  great  personages  from  England  passed 
through  that  town.  Lord  Loudon  was  one  ;  he  traveled  in  the  winter  from 
New  York  to  Boston.  The  relations  we  had  of  his  manners,  and  conduct  on 
the  road  gave  us  no  great  esteem  of  his  lordship's  qualifications  to  conduct 
the  war,  and  excited  gloomy  apprehensions.  The  young  Lord  Howe,  who 
passed  from  Boston  to  New  York,  was  the  very  reverse,  and  spread  every- 
where the  most  sanguine  hopes,  which,  however,  were  soon  disappointed  by 
his  melancholy  but  heroic  death.  The  third  was  Sir  GeofFroy  Amherst,  af- 
terward Lord  Amherst,  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  army.  Am- 
herst, who  had  arrived  at  Boston  from  the  conquest  of  Louisburg,  marched 
with  his  army  of  lour  thousand  men  across  the  country,  and  halted  a  few 
days  at  Worcester,  having  encamped  his  army  on  the  hill  behind  the  Court 
House.  Here  we  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  him,  his  officers  and  army. 
The  officers  were  very  social,  spent  their  evenings,  and  took  their  suppers 
with  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  were  able  to  invite  them,  and  entertained  us 
with  their  music  and  their  dances.  Many  of  them  were  Scotchmen  in  their 
plaids,  and  their  music  was  delightful  ;  even  the  bag-pipe  was  not  disagree- 
able. The  general  lodged  with  Col.  Chandler  the  elder,*  and  was  very  in- 
quisitive concerning  his  farm,  insisting  on  rambling  over  the  whole  of  it. 
The  excellent  order  and  discipline  observed  by  these  troops  revived  the  hopes 
of  the  country,  which  were  ultimately  fully  satisfied  by  the  entire  conquest  of 
Canada,  w^ith  the  help  of  the  militia  of  the  country,  which  were  sent  on  to 
their  assistance  with  great  confidence. 

At  the  time  when  Fort  William  Henry  was  besieged,  there  came  down  al- 
most every  day  depatches  from  the  general   to   the  New   England  colonies, 

*  This  was  the  Judge  Chaudler  who  died  in  1762,  his  residence  and  farm  of  500  acres   being  east 
of  Lincoln  Square,  (see  pages  68  and  69. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  181 

urging  for  troops  and  assistance.  Col.  Chandler  the  younger*  had  sent  so 
many  expresses  that  he  found  it  difficult  to  get  persons  to  undertake  the  jour- 
nies.  Complaining  of  this  embarrassment  one  evening,  in  company,  I  told 
him  I  had  so  long  led  a  sedentary  life  that  my  health  began  to  fail  me,  and 
that  I  had  an  inclination  to  take  a  journey  on  horseback. 

The  next  morning,  by  day-break,  he  was  at  my  chamber  door  with  des- 
patches for  the  Governor  of  Rhode  Island  ;  he  said  a  horse  was  ready.  With- 
out hesitation  I  arose  and  was  soon  mounted.  Too  much  despatch  was  nec- 
essary for  my  comfort,  and  I  believe,  for  my  health  ,  for  a  journey  so  fatigu- 
ing, in  a  man  who  was  not  on  horseback  more  than  once  a  year  on  a  short 
visit  to  his  parents,  I  cannot  think,  calculated  to  relieve  a  valetudinarian. 
Arrived  at  Providence,  I  was  informed  that  Mr.  Greene  was  at  Newport  with 
the  General  Assembly.  I  had  then  to  ride  through  the  Narraganset  country, 
and  to  cross  Conanicut  to  Rhode  Island.  In  the  woods  of  Narraganset  I  met 
two  gentlemen  on  horseback  of  whom  I  took  the  liberty  to  inquire  whether 
the  governor  was  still  at  Newport.  One  of  them  answered  he  was  not ;  but 
the  gentleman  with  him  was  the  goveritor.  My  despatches  were  delivered  to 
him,  and  he  broke  the  seals,  and  read  them  on  the  spot.  He  said  he  believed 
the  French  were  determined  to  have  the  country. f  He  asked  of  me 
many  questions,  and  also  gave  me  many  polite  invitations  to  return  with  him 
to  his  home,  which,  as  he  said  he  had  no  answer  to  return  by  me,  and  as  I 
was  determined  to  see  Newport,  I  civilly  declined.  Pursuing  my  journey,  I 
found  great  difficulty  to  get  over  the  water,  as  the  boats  and  men  were  gone 
upon  their  usual  employment.  One  was  found  after  a  time  very  tedious  to 
me,  and  I  landed  on  the  island,  and  had  a  good  opportunity  to  see  the  whole 
of  it,  as  my  road  to  Bristol  lay  through  the  whole  length  of  it.  To  me  the 
whole  island  appeared  a  most  beautiful  garden,  an  ornamented  farm  ;  but 
hostile  armies  have  since  degarnished  it  of  a  principal  embellishment,  the 
noble  acres  and  plantations  of  trees.  Crossing  over  the  ferry  to  Bristol,  I 
spent  a  night  with  Col.  Greene  whose  lady  was  a  Church,  and  a  sister  to  Mrs. 
John  Chandler.  Here  I  was  happy,  and  felt  at  home.  Next  morning  I  pur- 
sued my  journey  to  Worcester.  The  whole  was  accomplished  in  four  days, 
one  of  which  was  Sunday.  As  I  was  obliged  to  ride  all  that  day,  I  had  an 
opportunity  of  observing  the  manners  of  Rhode  Island,  much  more  gay  and 
social  than  our  Sundays  in  Massachusetts." 

School  Progress    since   the   Revolution. 

During  tho  revolution,  tlic  schools  as  well  as  other  like 
objects  were  comparatively  neglected  in  the  all-absorbiiig  inter- 

*Among  John  Adams'  pupils  here  were  sons  of  Judge  Chandler,  Timothy  Paine,  and  other  distin- 
guished men  of  the  time.  (See  page  84.)  John  Adams  was  promised  by  Col.  Doolittle,  Nathan 
Baldwin  and  others,  theofiHce  of  Register  of  Deeds  if  he  would  settle  here. 

t  On  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  siege  of  Fort  William  Henry,  Aug.  4,  1757,  audits  subsequent 
surrender,  in  response  to  commands  from  the  Governor  and  council  ordering  the  colonels  of  all  the 
regiments  to  hold  each  man  in  readiness  for  the  service,  the  whole  militia  of  Worcester  marched 
westward,  Aug.  10,  under  Col.  John  Chandler,  Jr.  ;  one  company  of  fifty-six  men  being  headed  by 
Capt.  James  Goodwin  with  Noah  Jones  as  lieutenant,  David  Bancroft,  ens-ign,  and  Dr.  Nahum 
Willard.  surgeon  :  another  company  of  fifty-four  men  was  under  Maj  Gardner  Chandler  with  Capt. 
John  Curtis,  Lieut.  Luke  Brown  and  Ensign  Asa  Flagg.  (See  page  75.)  Sept  17,  following,  when 
Gen.  Amherst  halted  here,  another  Worcester  company  was  raiFed,  of  which  Capt.  Samuel  Clark 
Paine  (a  brother  of  lion.  Timothy  Paine)  was  captain,  with  Daniel  McFarland,  (afterward  captain) 
as  lieutenant.  Col.  Samuel  Ward  (afterwards  of  Lancaster)  as  ensign  :  this  latter  company  being  at- 
tached to  the  regiment  of  Col.  Abijah  Willard  of  Lancaster,  of  which  regiment  Kcv.  \A  illiam  Craw- 
ford, John  Adams' successor  as  school  master  in  Worcester,  was  chaplain,  and  Col.  Samuel  Ward 
jiromoted  ailjutant.  In  1761,  Capt.  Thomas  Cowden,  (alterwards  of  Fitchburg),  who  had  served  as 
lieutenant,  was  promoted  captain,  and  took  twenty-five  men  with  him  from  Worcester  iuto  the 
service . 


182  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

est  of  the  war,  but  the  important  matter  of  education  soon  re- 
ceived its  wonted  prominence,  stimulated  by  the  fact  that  in 
1785,  the  town  was  again  presented  by  the  Grand  Jury  for  neg- 
lect of  its  grammar  school ;  and  arrangements  were  then  made 
for  a  thorough  re-organization  of  the  school  system  in  the 
centre  district,  in  co-operation  w^ith  Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  Hon. 
Joseph  Allen,  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  Nathan  Patch,  Dr 
John  Green,  senior,  John  Nazro,  Palmer  Goulding  and  others, 
who  had  united  in  a  joint  stock  company,  and  procured  land 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  on  which  was  erected  the  build- 
ing so  long  and  well  known  as  the  ''  Centre  School  House." 
This  structure  was  described  by  Rev.  Peter  Whitney  in  1793, 
as  "  a  large  and  handsome  school-house,  about  60  by  30  feet, 
and  two  stories  high,  on  the  lower  floor  of  which  are  two  apart- 
ments, one  for  a  grammar  school,  and  the  other  for  an  element- 
ary school ;  in  the  upper  story  is  a  large  hall,  (with  a  fire  place 
at  each  end,)  used  by  the  scholars  on  their  exhibition  days  ; 
on  the  top  is  a  cupola  with  a  bell." 

Of  the  two  schools  opened  in  this  new  house,  that  for  the  com- 
mon or  elementary  studies  began  under  the  tuition  of  Samuel 
Brown ;  and  the  other  for  the  higher  branches  of  academic  in- 
struction as  a  "  Classical  School"  under  Tliaddeus  Mason  Har. 
ris*  in  the  fall  of  1787,  succeeded  by  Thomas  Payson,  after- 
wards master  of  tlie  Franklin  Latin  Grammar  School  in  Boston. 
Among  those  who  succeeded  the  latter  were  many  who  subse- 
quently became  distinguished  in  various  ways,  including  Prof. 
Calvin  Park  of  Brown  University,  father  of  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards 
A.  Park  of  Andover  Theological  Seminary  ;  Dr.  Jacob  Bigelow 

*  Rev.  Thaddeus  Mason  Harris,  D.  D.,  son  of  AVilliam  Harris,  a  school- 
master in  Charlestown,  was  born  July  17,  1768,  and  died  April  3,  1842, 
having  been  for  forty  years  settled  minister  in  Dorchester,  where  he  was  in- 
stalled in  1793.  He  came  to  Worcester  immediately  after  his  graduation  at 
Cambridge  in  1787,  and  kept  the  "  Classical"  school  one  year.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  Elijah  Dix.  Clarendon  Harris,  for  the  last  fifty-five 
years  a  prominent  citizen  of  Worcester,  is  the  fifth  of  their  ten  children. 
The  grandfather,  Wm.  Harris,  was  obliged  to  leave  Charlestown,  where  he 
was  engaged  teaching  school,  on  the  burning  of  that  town  by  the  British,  in 
June,  i775,  and  retired  into  the  country,  to  a  place  then  called  Choxet  or 
Chockset,  now  Sterling,  (formerly  a  part  of  Lancaster.)  In  the  spring  of 
1770,  he  joined  the  union  arni}^  with  a  captain's  commission,  and  was  ap- 
pointed paymaster  in  Col.  David  Henley's  regiment.  He  died  in  Sterling, 
Oct.  30,  1778. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  183 

of  Boston,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Nelson  of  Leicester,  Rev.  Dr.  Jona- 
than Going,  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  noticed  elsewhere  ;  and 
George  Folsom,  noted  for  his  antiquarian  research.  Hon. 
Charles  Thurber  of  New  York  was  master  of  the  Latin  Gram- 
mar School  for  ten  years  subsequent  to  1830,  and  Warren  Laz- 
ell  of  the  English  Grammar  School  for  eighteen  years  subse- 
quent to  1828.  Hon.  Peter  C.  Bacon,  then  a  law  student  in 
the  office  of  Gov.  Davis  and  Judge  Allen,  was  the  predecessor 
of  Mr.  Thurber  as  Latin  Grammar  master  in  1829,  and  Leonard 
Worcester,  Jr.,  was  Mr.  Bacon's  predecessor.  John  Wriglit, 
afterwards  of  Lowell,  succeeded  Mr.  Thurber  in  1841,  and  Rev. 
R.  B.  Hubbard,  afterwards  of  Sunderland,  was  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Wright  till  1845. 

In  the  year  1800,  ten  school-houses  w^ere  built  in  different 
sections  of  the  town,  each  from  18  to  25  feet  square,  at  a  cost 
of  from  1202  to  f  270  each,  one  in  each  of  the  eight  districts, 
and  two  in  the  centre  district,  one  of  the  two  latter  being  the 
little  structure  on  Summer  street,  partially  torn  down,  opposite 
the  present  Summer  street  schoohhouse  ;  and  the  other  on  the 
south-east  side  of  the  old  common,  previously  alluded  to.  The 
eight  outer  districts  in  which  tliese  houses  were  built  in  1800, 
were  designated  and  located  as  follows  :  1st,  Tatnuck,  25  feet 
square,  cost  $270.27  ;  2d,  Jones',  near  New  Worcester,  24  feet 
square,  $270.27  ;  3d,  Fiske's  corner,  near  Northville,  22  feet 
square,  1247.75  ;  4th,  Burncoat  Plain,  22  feet  square,  $247.- 
75  ;  5th,  Burbank's,  at  Quinsigamond  Village,  22  feet  square, 
1247.74  ;  6th,  Baird's,  on  Grafton  road,  22  feet  square,  $247.- 
75  ;  7th,  Gates',  near  corner  of  Plantation  street  and  Bloom- 
ingdale  road,  20  feet  square,  $225.22  ;  8th,  Thaxter's,  at  North 
Worcester,  18  feet  square,  $202.70. 

In  1826  there  were  nine  districts,  with  five  schools  in  the 
centre  district,  the  schools  in  the  outer  districts  kept  from  five 
to  eight  months.  The  number  of  scholars  was  then  1027  in  a 
population  of  3700. 

In  1837  there  were  twelve  districts,  and  the  whole  number 
of  public  schools  in  them,  27 ;  number  of  scholars  in  winter, 
1195,  and  in  summer,  1206 ;  appropriation  for  schools,  $4500, 
with  an  additional  amount  of  $2500  in  the  centre  district. 


184  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Within  tlie  last  one  Imndred  years  tlie  annual  appropriation 
for  schools  has  increased  from  .£100  (or  about  8400)  to  about 
8150,000.  In  1785,  it  was  £150,  in  1788  it  had  increased  to 
X200,  in  1795  to  <£250,  and  in  1803,  when  the  currency  had 
changed,  it  was  81400,  increased  to  81500  in  1806,  to  81700 
in  1717,  to  82500  in  1824,  83000  in  1832,  and  83600  in 
1835.  During  the  latter  year,  when  the  number  of  registered 
children  between  the  ages  of  4  and  16  was  923,  the  average 
attendance  was  859.  Fifteen  years  later,  in  1850,  when  the 
population  of  the  town  had  advanced  from  6500  to  17,000,  and 
the  number  of  permanent  schools  in  the  centre  district  had  in- 
creased from  five  to  twenty,  besides  those  in  the  then  thirteen 
outer  districts,  the  expenditures  for  schools  and  school-houses 
had  increased  to  831,292.  Twenty  years  later,  in  1870,  when 
the  population  had  advanced  to  over  41,000,  of  which  the  aver- 
age number  belonging  to  the  schools  was  6385,  the  expenditures 
for  schools  and  school-houses  amounted  to  the  liberal  sum  of 
8259,425,  the  largest  total  of  any  year,  8138,997  of  it  being  for 
school-houses,  of  which  so  large  a  number  of  costly  ones  were 
built  about  that  period,  including  the  present  elegant  High 
School  building,  all  of  which  made  the  annual  expenditures  of 
this  department  for  several  years  near  that  period  much  larger 
than  they  have  ever  been,  before  or  since. 

During  the  year  1876,  tlie  expenditures  for  schools  and 
school-houses  amounted  to  8145,109,  somewhat  less  than  lor 
several  previous  years.  In  a  present  population  of  over  50,000, 
the  average  number  belonging  to  the  schools  during  the  past 
year  was  7503,  and  the  average  daily  attei; dance  6926,  out  of 
an  estimated  school  population  of  9,391  between  the  ages  of  6 
and  16,  and  8,801  between  5  and  15. 

The  total  valuation  of  the  present  thirty-four  school-houses 
and  school  lots  in  different  sections  of  the  city,  comprising  in 
all  about  16  2-3  acres  of  land,  is  about  8323,000.  Twenty-five 
of  the  schooMiouses  are  of  brick.  The  present  number  of 
school-rooms  is  174,  and  of  teachers  194,  the  salaries  of  the  lat- 
ter amounting  last  year  to  8114,190.  The  highest  annual  salary 
now  paid  lor  a  teacher,  83000,  seems  large,  when  contrasted 
with  the  8333.33  voted  to  be  paid   to  Thomas  Payson  as  pre- 


Remiriiscences  of    Worcester.  185 

ceptor  of  the  High  or  Latin  Grammar  School  in  1795,  or  '1750 
to  the  grammar  master  in  1837,  but  the  wonderful  progress  in 
everything  else  since  those  days  has  rendered  a  corresponding 
increase  necessary  in  the  expenditures  for  public  school  in- 
struction. 

The  old  centre  district  school-house  on  Main  street  was  used 
till  about  1844,  (the  last  few  years  for  schools  of  a  lower  grade,) 
when  it  was  sold,  raised  up  one  story,  and  moved  forward  about 
twenty  feet  to  its  present  position,  where  it  has  since  been  oc- 
cupied for  stores,  offices,  tfec,  and  been  known  successively  as 
''  Wait's  Block,"  and  "  Fletcher's  Block."  The  tier  of  bricks 
then  added  to  the  outside  walls,  has  given  it  the  appearance  of  a 
brick  structure,  but  an  examination  of  the  two  upper  stories  on 
the  inside  discloses  the  upper  hall  and  two  lower  rooms  of  the 
old  Classical  and  Latin  Grammar  School-house  of  1789.  At 
the  time  this  was  sold  over  thirty  years  ago,  another  scliool- 
house,  of  brick,  costing  $14,000,  was  erected  just  north  of  it, 
whicli,  after  being  used  about  twenty  years,  was  about  a  dozen 
years  ago  sold  to  David  S.  Messenger,  and  converted  by  him 
into  stores  and  dwellings;  more  spacious  structures  in  different 
sections  of  the  city,  now  taking  the  place  of  this  as  well  as  of 
other  former  structures  for  educational  purposes.  The  first 
brick  schooMiouse  erected  in  the  town,  was  that  on  Thomas 
street,  built  in  1832,  and  for  a  dozen  years  it  was  the  largest 
school-house  in  the  place,  the  Classical  and  Latin  Grammar 
School  being  kept  there  for  many  years  previous  to  the  opening 
of  the  first  High  School  building  on  Walnut  street,  in  January, 
1845.  This  last  was  a  very  creditable  structure  for  its  time,  cost- 
ing about  $25,000,  and  well  answered  its  purpose  until  the  rap- 
idly growing  wants  of  the  city  demanded  increased  accommoda- 
tions, when  the  present  commodious  and  elegant  edifice  was 
erected  on  its  site,  an.d  opened  the  first  week  in  January,  1871. 
The  present  brick  school4iouse  on  Thomas  street  was  erected 
in  1850  on  the  site  of  the  former  one,  then  removed  to  East 
Worcester.  It  was  the  only  Grammar  School  in  the  city  aside 
from  the  High  School,  until  the  Grammar  School-house  on 
Sycamore  street  was  built  in  1855,  that  in  New  Worcester  fol- 

24 


186  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

lowing  in  1857,  others  being  added  from  year  to  year  until 
there  are  now  ten  Grammar  School-houses  in  different  sections 
of  the  city,  costhig  from  $30,000  to  $50,000  each,  exclusive  of 
the  High  School  building  which  cost  $200,000. 

Caleb  B.  Metcalf,  for  tlie  last  twenty  years  principal  of  the 
Highland  Military  Academy,  was  the  successor  of  Warren  Laz- 
ell  as  principal  teacher  in  the  Thomas  street  school-house  for 
eleven  years  from  1846  to  1857,  since  which  time  the  number 
of  Grammar  Schools  of  the  highest  grade  has  increased  to  ten, 
the  present  principal  of  longest  experience  in  them  being  Ed- 
ward 1.  Comins,  now  of  the  Woodland  street  School,  who  in 
1864  succeeded  James  H.  Newton,  (the  successor  of  C.  B. 
Metcalf,)  as  principal  of  the  Thomas  street  School. 

Principals  of  the  High  School. 

The  principals  of  the  High  School,  since  the  erection  of  tlie 
first  High  School  building  on  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  Maple 
streets,  have  been  :  Elbridge  Smith,  who  began  with  the  open- 
ing of  the  new  structure  the  first  week  in  January,  1845,  and 
continued  three  years  to  1848  ;  Nelson  Wheeler  four  years  to 
1852 ;  George  Capron  three  years  to  1855  ;  Osgood  Johnson 
one  year  to  1856  ;  Homer  B.  Sprague  three  years  to  1859  ; 
Harris  R.  Greene  seven  years  to  1866  ;  John  F.  Clafiin  one 
year  to  1867  ;  Ellis  Peterson  three  years  to  1870  ;  A.  H.  Davis 
three  years  to  1872  ;  Ellis  Peterson  four  years  to  1876  ;  Joseph 
W.  Fairbanks,  the  present  principal,  being  now  in  his  second 
year. 

The  first  assistant  principals,  during  this  time,  have  been  : 
Hasbrouck  Davis  in  1845  ;  Wni.  E.  Starr  eleven  years  to  1857  ; 
the  latter's  successors  to  this  time  being  P.  W.  Calkins,  J.  H. 
Winn,  James  K.  Lombard,  Henry  Shippen,  H.  P.  Boyden,  M. 
S.  Snow,  A.  H.  Davis,  Roswell  Parish  and  Edward  H.  Davis. 

School   Superintendents. 
After  Warren  Lazell  resigned  his  position  as  principal  teach- 
er of  the  Thomas  street  Grammar  School  in  1846,  he  was  chosen 
secretary  of  the  school  committee,  and  his  successors  in  the  lat- 
ter capacity  were  Henry  J.  Howland,  Augustus  Tucker  and 


Reminiscence  of  Worcester. 


187 


Hon.  Wm.  W.  Rice,  till  the  year  1857,  when  the  oflfice  of  Super- 
intendent of  schools  was  created.  The  first  superintendent 
was  Rev.  George  Bushncll,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Salem  street 
Congregational  Church,  wlio  officiated  one  year  when  the  of- 
fice was  abolished,  and  created  again  the  following  year,  since 
which  time  the  school  superintendents  have  been  :     Rev.  J.  D. 

E.  Jones,  seven  years  from  1859  to  1866  ;  Col.  B.  P.  Cheno- 
weth,  three  years  to  1869  ;  the  present  superintendent,  Albert 

F.  Marble,  being  now  in  his  eighth  vear  of  service 


MUNICIPAL  OFFICERS,  ETC 


CHAPTER    XII. 


Selectmen. 

Having  given,  on  pages  28  and  29,  the  names  of  the  leading 
town  officials  from  1722  to  the  revolution,  a  continuation  to  the 
present  time  is  proper  here.  Those  acting  upon  the  board  of 
selectmen,  during  the  contest  with  the  mother  country,  were 
Co^  Benjamin  Flagg,  Col.  Ephraim  Doolittle,  Joshua  and 
David  Bigelow,  Samuel  Curtis,  Josiali  Pierce,  Wm.  Young, 
Jonathan  Stone,  Samuel  Miller,  Dea.  Nathan  Perry,  Robert 
Smith,  Col.  Ebenezer  Lovell,  Xathaniel  Brooks,  Samuel  Brown, 
Col.  Edward  Crafts,  Capt.  John  Gleason,  and  Wm.  McFarland, 
to  1783.  Dea.  Nathan  Perry  was  nine  years  a  member  of  the 
board  previous  to  1789,  six  years  chairman  ;  Samuel  Brooks 
was  selectman  ten  years  to  1793  ;  Samuel  Curtis  eight  years  to 
1795 ;  Daniel  Baird  six  years  to  1790  ;  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler 
five  years  to  1792  ;  Col.  Phinehas  Jones  two  years  to  1797  ; 
Dea.  John  Chamberlain  fifteen  years,  Judge  Nathaniel  Paine 
eight  years,  and  David  Andrews  five  years  to  1802  ;  Judge 
Benjamin  Hey  wood  eight  years  to  1800  ;  Col.  Samuel  Flagg 
was  chairman  of  the  board  eighteen  years  from  1790  to  1807  -, 
Joseph  Holbrook  was  selectman  four  years  to  1809  ;  Nathaniel 
Harrington  seven  years  to  1809;  Judge  Edward  Bangs  six 
years  to  1808,  and  his  son,  Edward  D.  Bangs,  two  years  to 
1824  ;  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower  twelve  years  to  1810  and  his  nephew, 
Capt.  Ephraim  Mower,  three  years  to  1817  ;  Thomas  Nichols 
seven  years  to  1815  ;  Nathan    White  thirteen  years   to  1820; 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  189 

Doa.  Nathaniel  StowcU  six  years  to  1821,  and  in  1837  ;  Capt. 
Peter  Slater  four  years  to  1822  ;  Wm.  Chamberlain  three  years 
to  1824  ;  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  chairman  of  the  board  fif- 
teen years  to  his  death  in  1824,  and  Judge  Pliny  Merrick  and 
Otis  Corbett,  successively  chairman,  three  years  each  to  1830  ; 
John  Gleason,  Jr.,  was  selectman  nine  years  to  1826  ;  F.  W. 
Paine  in  1827  ;  Asahel  Bellows  in  1830 ;  William  Eaton 
eleven  years  to  1830  ;  Gen.  Thomas  Chamberlain  three 
years  to  1829,  and  in  1838  and  1839  ;  Dea.  Alpheus  Merrifield 
five  years  and  Henry  Heywood  two  years  to  1832  ;  Jonathan 
Harrington  two  years  to  1833  ;  John  Flagg  seven  years  to 
1834  ;  Guy  S.  Newton  four  years  to  1835  ;  Gen.  E.  L.  Barn- 
ard two  years  to  1836  ;  Jonathan  Harrhigton  in  1832  and 
1833 :  Benjamin  Butman  in  1828,  1834  and  1835  ;  Joseph 
Converse  and  Samuel  Banister  in  1837  ;  John  P.  Kettell  in 
1838  and  1839  ;  Wm.  A.  Wheeler  in  1840  and  1841  ;  Henry 
Goulding  and  William  Barber  in  1842. 

Judge  Charles  Allen  was  chairman  of  the  selectmen  in  1832, 
Judge  Thomas  Kinnicutt  in  1836,  and  Col.  Isaac  Davis  in  1837. 
Col.  John  W.  Lincoln  was  chairman  of  the  board  eight  years 
between  1833  and  1845,  and  Frederick  W.  Paine  six  years  be- 
tween 1831  and  1848,  both  being  on  the  same  board  three 
years  besides,  Mr.  Paine  serving  as  chairman  during  the  last 
two  years  of  the  town  organization. 

The  oldest  surviving  member  of  the  former  town  organiza- 
tion is  the  venerable  Benjamin  Flagg,  selectman  in  1831  and  in 
1837,  who  completed  his  87th  year,  June  12,  1877.  The 
next  oldest  is  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  who  was  chairman  of  the  board 
in  1837,  the  first  year  the  selectmen's  reports  were  printed. 
The  next  oldest  is  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  who  served  in  1839. 
The  next  oldest  surviving  members  are :  Albert  Curtis,  who 
served  in  1840  and  1841  ;  Henry  W.  Miller,  who  served  five 
years  to  1845  ;  Darius  Rice,  four  years  to  1845  ;  Edward  Earle, 
four  years  to  1846  ;  Samuel  Davis  and  Jonas  Bartlett,  members 
in  1846,  the  latter  also  serving  in  1847  ;  and  Horatio  N.  Tower 
and  Albert  Tolman,  selectmen  in  1847,  the  last  year  of  the 
town. 


190  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Worcester  a  City. 
The  legislative  act  establishing  the  city  of  Worcester  re- 
ceived the  signature  of  Gov.  George  N.  Briggs,  Feb.  29,  1848, 
and  the  first  city  government  elected  under  it,  was  inaugurated 
April  17,  1848,  with  Ex-Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Mayor,  and  the  fol- 
lowing Aldermen  :  Parley  Goddard,  Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  John 
W.  Lincoln,  James  S.  Wood  worth,  Wm.  B.  Fox,  James  Esta- 
brook,  Isaac  Davis  and  Stephen  Salisbury,  of  whom  four  only, 
Judge  Thomas,  Col.  Davis,  and  Messrs.  Salisbury  and  Wood- 
worth,  now  survive.  Of  the  twenty-four  members  of  the  first 
common  council,  Gen.  Thomas  Chamberlain,  president,  nine 
now  survive,  as  follows :  Charles  Bowen,  John  Gates,  Darius 
Rice,  Benjamin  F.  Stowell,  Gov.  Alexander  H.  Bullock,  Albert 
Curtis,  Dea.  Daniel  Goddard,  Wm.  T.  Merrifield,  and  Calvin 
Foster. 

Mayors. 

The  seventeen  mayors  for  the  twenty-nine  years  of  the  city 
government  have  been :  Levi  Lincoln  in  1848  ;  Henry  Chapin 
in  1849  and  1850  ;  Peter  C.  Bacon  in  1851  and  1852,  during 
whose  administration  the  official  year  was  changed  to  Jan.  1 ; 
John  S.  C.  Knowlton  in  1853  and  1854  ;  George  W.  Richard- 
son in  1855  and  1857  ;  Isaac  Davis  in  1856,  1858  and  1861  ; 
Alexander  H.  Bullock  in  1859  ;  Wm.  W.  Rice  in  1860 ;  P. 
Emory  Aldrich  in  1862  ;  Daniel  Waldo  Lincoln  in  1863  and 
1864 ;  Phinehas  Ball  in  1865  ;  James  B.  Blake  five  years  to 
his  death,  Dec.  18, 1870,  by  the  explosion  at  the  gas  house,  he 
being  also  elected  for  1871,  Henry  Chapin  serving  as  Mayor 
ad  interim  until  a  successor  was  chosen  by  the  people,  Jan.  30, 
following ;  Edward  Earle  from  January  30,  during  the  year 
1871 ;  George  F.  Verry  in  1872  ;  Clark  Jillson  in  1873,  1875 
and  1876  ;  Edward  L.  Davis  in  1874  ;  and  Charles  B.  Pratt  in 
1877. 

Officers  of  Common  Council. 

The  presidents  of  the  common  council  have  been  :  Gen. 
Thomas  Chamberlain  in  1848 ;  Jonas  M.  Miles  in  1849 ; 
Charles  Washburn  in  1850  and  1851  ;  John  F.  Burbank  in 
1852  ;  Wm.  N.  Green  in  1853  ;  Col.  James  Estabrook  in  1854  ; 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  191 

Hon.  George  M.  Eice  in  1855,1856  and  1857;  Hon.  E.  B. 
Stoddard  in  1858  ;  Col.  John  W.  Wetherell  in  1859  ;  Joseph 
H.  Walker  in  1860  ;  James  E.  Estabrook  in  1861 ;  Philip  L. 
Moen  in  1862  and  1863  ;  Richard  Ball  in  1864 ;  Wm.  E. 
Starr  in  1865  and  1866  ;  Edward  L.  Davis  in  1867  ;  Stephen 
Salisbury,  Jr.,  in  1868  ;  Samuel  V.  Stone  in  1869  ;  Charles 
G.  Reed  in  1870,  1871  and  1872 ;  Samuel  R.  Heywood  in 
1873  ;  Enoch  H.  Towne  in  1874  ;  Charles  Ballard  in  1875  ; 
Thomas  J.  Hastings  in  1876  ;  George  E.  Boyden  in  1877. 

The  clerks  of  the  common  council  have  been :  Wm.  A. 
Smith  four  years  to  1852  ;  Warren  Adams  in  1852 ;  Lewis  A. 
Maynard  in  1853  ;  Wm.  A.  Smith  seven  years  more  to  1860 ; 
John  A.  Dana  five  years  to  1865  ;  Henry  L.  Shumway  ten 
years  to  1875  ;  S.  Hamilton  Coe  in  1876  and  1877. 

Town  and  City  Clerks. 
Jonas  Rice  in  1722  and  1724,  and  from  1731  to  1753  ;  Ben- 
jamin Flagg,  Jr.,  in  1723  and  1730  ;  Daniel  Heywood  in  1753  ; 
Timothy  Paine,  eleven  years  to  1764  ;  Clark  Chandler,  eleven 
years  to  1775 ;  Nathan  Baldwin,  four  years  to  1778 ;  Wm. 
StearnSj  Nathaniel  Heywood  and  Joseph  Allen  1781 ;  Daniel 
Goulding  to  1783  ;  Wm.  G.  Maccarty  to  1784  ;  Daniel  Gould- 
ing  to  1787  ;  Theophilus  Wheeler  to  1792 :  Daniel  Goulding  to 
1800  ;  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske  to  1803  ;  Daniel  Goulding  again  to 
1808  ;  Enoch  Flagg  to  1815  ;  Levi  Heywood,  (uncle  of  the  pres- 
ent Levi  and  Seth  Heywood  of  Gardner,)  tliree  years  to  1818  ; 
Dr.  Benjamin  Chapin,  (brother  of  the  late  Dea.  Lewis  Chapin,) 
fifteen  years  to  1833  ;  Samuel  Jennison,  three  years  to  1836  ; 
Charles  A.  Hamilton,  twenty  years  to  1856  ;  Samuel  Smith, 
twenty-one  years  to  1877;  Enoch  H.  Towne,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, from  Jan.  1,  1877. 

■  Treasurers. 
Daniel  Heywood  in  1722,  and  from  1732  to  1736  ;  Henry 
Lee  in  1723  and  1728  ;  Nathaniel  Moore  in  1725,  and  in  1730 
and  1731 ;  James  Taylor  in  1726  and  1727  ;  Judge  Wm.  Jen- 
nison in  1732;  Gershom  Rice  from  1736  to  1739;  Benjamin 
Flagg,  Jr.,  from  1739  to  1741  ;  John   Chandler,  (the  second 


192  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

judge,)  from  1741  to  1753  ;  his  sou,  the  last  judge,  tweuty-two 
years  from  1753  to  1775,  except  the  year  17G1.  wheu  Capt. 
Johu  Curtis  was  treasurer ;  Dea.  Nathau  Perry,  four  years  to 
1779;  Dr.  Johu  Greeu  aud  Capt.  Wm.  Gates  to  1781;  Dea. 
Nathau  Perry,  agaiu  uiue  years  to  1790  ;  Judge  Beujamiu 
Hey  wood,  five  years  to  1795  ;  Samuel  Chaudler,  three  years 
to  1798;  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske  to  1800;  Theophilus  Wheeler  to 
1803;  Col.  Samuel  Flagg,  five  years  to  1808;  Levi  Liucolu, 
(afterwards  governor,)  seveu  years  to  1815  ;  James  Wilson, 
(postmaster,)  fourteen  years  to  1829  ;  Samuel  Jennison  and 
Asa  Hamilton  to  1831 ;  Charles  A.  Hamilton  to  1833  ;  Clias. 
G.  Prentiss  to  1837;  William  Greenleaf  to  1840;  Stephen 
Bartlett  to  1844  ;  John  Rice  to  1847  :  John  Boyden  to  1850  ; 
George  W.  Wheeler,  twenty-two  years  to  1872;  Wm.  S.Bar- 
ton, the  present  treasurer,  from  Jan.  1,  1872. 

City  Marshals. 
The  city  marshals  have   been :  George  Jones   five  years  to 
1853  ;  Alvan    Allen    in    1853  ;  Lovell    Baker,  Jr.,  in    1854  ; 
Jonathan    Day  in   1855  ;  Frederick    Warren    three   years   to 

1859  ;  Col.  Wm.  S.  Lincoln  in   1859  ;  Col.  Ivers  Phillips  in 

1860  ;  Col.  Levi  Barker  in  1861  ;  Wm.  E.  Starr  in  1862  ; 
Charles  B.  Pratt  three  years  to  1866  ;  Joseph  B.  Knox  in 
1866;  A.  B.  R.  Sprague  to  June  10,  1867,  when  he  resigned, 
was  succeeded  by  Col.  James  M.  Drennan  4^  years  to  1872  ; 
Jonathan  B.  Sibley  in  1872  ;  W.  Ansel  Washburn  in  1873  : 
Maj.  A.  D.  Pratt  in  1874  :  W.  Ansel  Washburn  Jan.  1875, 
to  the  present  time. 

REPRESf:NTATIYES    TO    THE    GENERAL    CoURT. 

During  the  150  years  that  Worcester  has  sent  representa- 
tives to  the  General  Court,  178  of  her  citizens  have  filled  that 
office.  But  one  representative  was  sfent  each  year  till  1796, 
when  another  was  added,  and  two  more  in  1807,  making  three 
from  the  latter  date  till  1830,  when  five  began  to  be  sent ;  in- 
creased to  six  in  1834  ;  seven  in  1835  ;  eight  in  1836  and 
1837  ;  reduced  to  five  in  1838  ;  six  in  1839  and  1840  ;  and 
then,  (the  basis  of  representation  being  changed,)  three  each 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  193 

year  to  1851  ;  five  from  1851  to  18(JG  ;  and  six  from  the  latter 
date  to  187(3  ;  eight  being  sent  the  present  year,  one  from  each 
ward.  The  district  system  first  went  into  effect  at  the  election 
ill  Nov^ember,  1857,  before  which  time  all  the  representatives 
from  the  same  town  or  city  were  voted  for  on  one  ticket,  as  also 
all  the  senators  from  the  same  county. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  representatives  from  Worcester, 
beginning  with  the  first  one  in  1727.  The  year  of  service  giv- 
en is  that  following  the  election.  Since  1830,  the  election  of 
State  officers  has  been  in  November,  and  they  have  taken  their 
seats  tlie  January  following.  Previous  to  1830,  they  were 
elected  the  fore  part  of  May,  took  their  seats  on  '"  old  election" 
day,  the  last  Wednesday  in  May,  and  after  the  ceremonies  of 
inauguration,  the  appointment  of  committees,  and  other  pre- 
liminaries, adjourned  till  winter,  the  main  part  of  tliC  session, 
coming  in  the  first  months  of  the  following  year,  their  terms  of 
office  holding  for  one  year  till  the  succeeding  May. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Jones  in  1727  ;  Judge  WiUiam  Jennison  in   1728,  1729 
and  1730  ;  Palmer  Gouldinn;  in  1741 ;  the  second  Benjamin  Flagg  in  1731, 
and  seven  years  more  from  1743  to  1751 ;  John  Chandler,  (the  second  judge,) 
ten  years  from  1732  to  1742,  and  his  son,  the  third  judge,  from   1752  to 
1755  ;  Timothy  Paine,  eight  years  to  1704  ;  Col.  Ephraim  Doolittle,  three 
years  to  1707  ;  Joshua  Bigeiow,  six  years  to   1773  ;  Col.   Ebenezer  Lovell, 
liavid  Bigeiow,  Dr.  John  Green  and  Ezekiel  Howe  to  1778  ;  Samuel  Curtis, 
eight  years  to   1780  ;  Samuel  Bror.ks  in  1787  and  1788  ;  Timothy  Paine, 
three  years  to  1791  ;  Col.  Samuel  Fiagg,  eight  years  to  1799,  the  first  Levi 
Lincoln  serving  vs'ith  him   in   1790  ;  Jutlge  Nathaniel  Paine  in  1800  and 
1801 ;  Samuel  Curtis  in  1802  ;  Samuel  Curtis  and  Judge  Edward  Bangs  in 
1803  ;  Col.  Samuel  Flagg  and  Judge  Edward  Bangs  in  1804,  1805  and  1800  ; 
Bangs,  Curtis  and  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower  in   1807  ;  Bangs,  Mower  and  Col. 
Flagg  in  1808  ;  Bangs,  Mower  and  Nathan  AVhite  in   1809  ;  Bangs,  Mower 
and  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1810  and  1811  ;  Bangs,  Abraham  Lincoln  and 
Wm.  Eaton  in  1812  ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  Wm.  Eaton  and  Nathan  AVhite  in 
1813  and  1814  ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  Nathan  White  and  Levi  Lincoln  in  1815 
and  1810  ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  and  Edward  D.  Bangs,  six 
years  to  1822  ;  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  (that  year  speaker,  and  afterwards  gov- 
ernor,) Abraham  Lincoln  and  Wm.  Eaton  in  1823  ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  \v^m. 
Eaton  and  Samuel  Harrington  in  1824  ;  Wm.  Eaton,  Col.  John  W.  Lincoln 
and  Otis  Corbett  in  1825  and  1820  ;  John  W.  Lincoln,  Otis  Corbett  and  S. 
M.  Burnside  in  1827  ;  Otis  Corbett,  Wm.  Eaton  and  Pliny  Merrick  in  1828  ; 
Corbett,  Eaton  and  Rejoice  Newton  in  1829  ;  Charles  Allen,  Dr.  Benjamin 
Chapin,  Rejoice  New^ton,  Wm.  Eaton  and  Frederick  Wm.  Paine  in  1830; 
Otis  Corbett,  AYm.  Eaton  and  Rejoice  Newton  in  1831  ;  Luther  Burnett,  Jr., 
Capt.  Lewis  Bigeiow^  Dea.  Nathaniel  Stowell,  Otis  Corbett  and  Jubal  Har- 
rington in  1832  ;  Charles  Allen,  Silas  Brooks,  Dea.  Lewis  Chapin,  Alfred 
D.  Foster,  Windsor  Hatch  and  John  W.  Lincoln  in   1833;  Charles  Allen, 
Lewis  Chapin,  John  Flagg,  A.   D.  Foster,  Windsor  Hatch   and  John  W. 
25 


194  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Lincoln  in  1834;  David   T.   Brigliam,  Gen.   Thomas   Chamberlain,  A.  D. 
Foster,  John  Flagg,  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  John  AY.   Lincoln  and  Samuel  B. 
Thomas   in    1835  ;  Thomas   Chamberlain,  Otis  Corbett,    Benjamin   Flagg, 
Benj.  Goddard,  2d,  Maj    Thomas  Harbaek,  Jubal  Harrington,  Wm.  Lincoln 
and    Guy  Stafford  Newton  in   183G  ;  Gen.   E.   L.   Barnard,    Gen.    Thomas 
Chamberlain,  Dea.  John  Coe,  Benj.  Goddard,  2d,  E.  H.  Ilemenway,  Thomas 
Kinnicutt,  Wm.  Lincoln  and  David  AVadsworth  in  1837  ;   Gen.  E.  L.   Barn- 
ard, Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  Wm.  Lincoln,  Guy  S.  Newton  and  Emory  AVash- 
burn,  (afterwards  governor,)  in  1838  ;  Lewis  Chapin,  Thomas  Kinnicutt, 
and  AVm.  Lincoln  in  1841 ;  Thomas  Kinnicutt,   Benjamin  F.  Thomas  and 
John  Hammond  in  1842  ;  Thomas   Kinnicutt,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Brouks  and 
Fitzroy  AVillard  in    1843  ;  Thomas   Kinnicutt,   (tliat   year   speaker   of  the 
House,)  Fitzroy  AVillard  and  Nathaniel  Brooks  in  1844  ;  Alexander  IL  Bul- 
lock, (afterwards  governor,)  John  Milton  Earle  and  Darius  Rice  in   1845; 
Ira  M.  Barton,  J.  M.  Earle  and  Darius  Rice  in  1846  ;  A.  H.  Bullock,  P.  B. 
Gilbert  and  D.  AYaldo  Lincoln  in  1847:  A.  H.  Bullock,  P.  B.  Gilbert  and 
Samuel  Davis  in  1848  ;  Peter  C.  Bacon,  Albert  Tolman  and  Charles  White 
in  1849;  John  Milton  Earle,  Albert  Tolman  and  Charles  AVhite  in  1850; 
John  M.  Earle,  Charles  AVasliburu,  Benjamin  Flngg,  John  F.   Gleason  and 
Edward  Earle  in  1851;  George    F.  Hoar,    (afterwards  representative    and 
senator  in  Congress,)  Isaac  Davis,  John  M.  Earle,  Putnam  \V.  Taft  and  John 
Gleason  in  1852;  Eli  Thayer,   (afterwards  member  of  Congress,)  Charles 
White,  Edward  Lamb,  Henry  AY.  Benchley  and  George  AY.   Gill   in   1853; 
Henry  AY.  Benchley,  (afterwards  Lieut. -Governor,)  Henry   H.    Chamberlin, 
George  W.  Gill,  Edward  Lamb  and  Eli  Thayer  in  1854;  Harrison   Bliss, 
Daniel  E.  Chapin,  AA'^aterman  A.  Fisher,  Austin  L.  Rogers  and  Putnam  W. 
Taft  in  1855  ;  Harrison  Bliss,  Elijah  B.  Stoddard.  Putnam  AV.  Taft,  George 
AY.  Russell  and  John  H.  Brooks  in  1850  ;  John   B.  D.   Cogswell,*  VYm.  T. 
Merriiield,  Dexter  F.  Parker,  George  F.  Thompson  and  Stephen  P.  Twiss  in 
1857  ;  Albert  L.  Benchley,  Alexander  Thayer,  Dexter  F.  Parker,  James  S. 
Woodworth  and  Rev.  0.  H.  Tillotson  in  1858  ;  Dr.  George  Chandler,  Albert 
Tolman,  Henry  C.  Rice,  Charles   B.    Pratt  and  Marcus  Barrett  in   1859  ; 
Henry    C    Rice,  Benjamin   F.    Otis,  Samuel   A.    Knox,  Joseph    Pratt   and 
Timothy  S.  Stone  in  1800  ;  Alexander  H.  Bullock,  Dexter  F.  Parker,  Joseph 
D.  Daniels,  Benjamin  F.  Otis  and  Patrick  O'Keefe  in  1801  ;  Alexander  H. 
Bullock,  (speaker,)  Delano  A.   Goddard,  Joseph   D.  Daniels,  Rev.  Samuel 
Souther  and  John  L.  Murphy  in  1802  ;  xVlexander  II.  Bullock,    (speaker,) 
AYarren  AYilliams,  Rev.  Samuel  Souther,  A'crnon  A.  Ladd  and  E.  G.   AYar- 
ren  in  1803  ;  Alexander  H.  Bullock,  (speaker,)  \Yarren  AYilliams,  Timothy 
AY.  VYellirgton,  George  A.  Brown  and  Edwin  Draper  in  1804  ;  Alexander 
H.  Bullock,  (speaker,)  George  A.  Brown,  John  P.  Marble,  Charles  H.  Bal- 
lard and  Edwin   Draper  in  1805  ;  P.  Emory  Aldrich,   (afterwards  judge,) 
Rev.  T.  E.  St.  John,  Fitzroy  AYillard,  M.  J.  McCafferty  and  George  R.  Peck- 
ham  in  1800  ;  P.  Emory  xVldrich,  Jonathan  C.  French,  A.   G.   Coes,  George 
.11.  Peckham  and  John  C.  Bigelow  in  1807;  D.  A.  Goddard,  AYarren  AYil- 
liams, A.  G.  AYalker,  Edward  S.  Stebbins,  James  S.  Woodworth  and  Pres- 
cott  A.  Thompson  in  1808  ;  AYarren  AVilliams,  T.  L.  Nelson,  A.   G.   Coes, 
John  Dean,  George  M.  AYoodward  and  AYelcome  W.  Sprague  in  1809  ;  Col. 
John  AY.  Wetherell,  Daniel  AY.  Bemis,  Thomas  Earle,  Edwin  T.  Marble, 
Dorrance  S.  Goddard  and  Thomas.  Gates  in   1870;  Lewis  Barnard,  Charles 
L.  Putnam,  John  S.  Baldwin,  Joseph   R.  Torrey,  Thomas    Gates  and  AYm. 
Mulligan,  (Paxtijn,)  in  1871;  Lewis  Barnard,  John  Gates,  John  S.   Bald- 
win, Joseph  R.  Torrey,  George  P.  Kendrick  and  B.  AY.  Potter  in  1872;  T. 
AY.  VYellington,  John  Gates,  Samuel  Winslow,  Samuel  E.  Hildreth,  Joseph 
A.Titus  and  George    P.    Kendrick   iu    1873;  T.    AY.    AYellington,  Samuel 

*J:' resident  of  the  State  Senate  in  1877. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  195 

Winalow,  Emory  Banister,  James  E,  Estabtook,  Andrew  Athy  and  Thomas 
Gates  in  1874  ;  Wm.  W,  Rice,  (afterwards  representative  in  Congress,) 
tSamnel  R.  Ileywood,  Enoch  H.  Towne,  Andrew  Athy,  James  E.  Estabrook 
and  Osgood  Bradley,  Jr.,  in  1875  ;  Col.  John  W.  Wetherell,  Samuel  R. 
Ileywood,  Col.  John  D.  Washburn,  Osgood  Bradley,  Jr.,  M.  J.  McCafierty 
and  Jeremiah  Murphy  in  187G  ;  Samuel  R.  Ileywood,  John  D.  "Washburn, 
Jolin  D.  Lovell,  Frank  P.  Goulding,  M.  J.  McCafferty,  James  II.  Mellen 
and  Cornelius  O "Sullivan  in  1877. 

Of  those  serving  longest,  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  represen- 
tative 14  years  ;  Timotliy  Paine,  Samuel  Curtis  and  Col.  Sam- 
uel Flagg  each  ten  years  ;  Alexander  H.  Bullock  nine  years  ; 
Col.  John  W.  Lincoln,  Wm.  Lincoln,  Wm.  Eaton,  Otis  Cor- 
l)ett  and  Thomas  Kinnicutt  each  six  years ;  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln 
Tind  Eplu-aim  Mower,  senior,  each  five  years. 

Senators. 
Previous  to  the  revolution,  no  such  body  as  the  senate  ex-, 
isted,  tliat  most  nearly  answering  to  it  being  the  Executive 
Council  of  the  Province,  consisting  of  one  or  more  persons 
from  each  county.  The  first  State  Constitution  of  1780  pro- 
vided for  both  senators  and  councillors  as  now,  the  latter  hav- 
ing always  been  chosen  by  the  legislature  until  1857,  when 
they  were  made  elective  by  the  people,  in  districts,  eight  in 
number.  The  first  senators  from  Worcester  county,  under  the 
constitution  of  1780,  were:  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton,  after- 
wards Lieut.  Governor  and  Acting  Governor  ;  Samuel  Baker 
of  Berlin  ;  Joseph  Dorr  of  Ward,  (now  Auburn,)  afterwards 
judge  of  probate  ;  Israel  Nichols  of  Leominster  ;  and  Col.  Seth 
Washburn  of  Leicester,  of  revolutionary  fame,  (grandfather  of 
the  late  Gov.  Emory  Washburn.)  Five  have  been  sent  each 
year,  from  the  first,  (and  six  from  1835  to  1845,)  from  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  county,  all  on  one  ticket  till  1857.  Daniel 
Bigelow,  then  of  Petersham,  a  native  and  previous  resident  of 
the  town  of  Worcester,  (before  noticed,)  was  senator  from 
1794  to  1799,  and  from  1802  to  1807,  ten  years  in  all,  and  his 
son,  Lewis  Bigelow  in  1820  and  1821.  Those  oh  the  board  re- 
sidents of  tliis  town  and  city  have  been  : 

Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  in  1797  and  1798;  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  in  1813; 
Francis  Blake  ft-om  1810  to  1815  ;  Daniel  Waldo  from  181G  to  1819  ;  Wm. 
Eaton  in  1826  ;  Joseph  G.  Kendall,  (then  of  Leominster,  afterwards  of Wor- 


196  Reminisce7ices  of    Worcester. 

cester,)  from  1824  to  1828  :  Col.  John  W.  Lincoln  from  1827  to  1832  ;  Ira 
M.  Barton  from  1833  and  1834  ;  Reioice  Newton  in  1834  ;  Charles  Allen  in 
183G  and  1837  ;  Thomas  Kinnicatt  in  1838  and  1839  ;  Emory  Washburn  in 
1841  and  1842  ;  Ex-Gov.  Levi  Lincoln  in  1844  and  1845,  the  latter  j^ear 
president  of  the  Senate  ;  Calvin  AVillard  in  184G  :  Stephen  Salisbury  in  1840 
and  1847  ;  Alfred  D.  Foster  in  1848  ;  Alexander  11.  Bullock  in  1849  ;  Pliny 
Merrick  in  1850  ;  Alexander  DeWitt  in  1851:  John  S.  C.  Knowlton  in  1852 
and  1853,  Charles  Thurber  taking  his  place  the  latter  year,  Mr.  Knowlton 
having  been  elected  Mayor  of  Worcester  ;  Isaac  Davis  in  1854;  Henry  W. 
Benchley  in  1855,  that  year  president  of  the  Senate,  and  the  next  year  Lient. 
Governor  ;  Francis  II.  Dewey  in  185G  ;  George  F.  Iloar  in  1857  ;  John  Mil- 
ton Earle  in  1858  ;  Dexter  F.  Parker  in  1859  and  18G0  ;  Ichaliod  Washburn 
in  18G1  ;  Hartley  Williams  in  18G2  and  18G3  ;  E.  B.  Stoddard  in  18G4  and 
18G5:  L.  AV.  Pond  in  186G,  18G7  and  18G8  ;  F.  H.  Dewey  in  18G9  ;  George 
M.  Rice  in  1870;  Adin  Thayer  in  1871  and  1872;  George  F.  Thompson  in 
1873  ;  George  F.  Yerry  in  1S74  and  1875  ;  Edward  L.  Davis  in  187G  ; 
George  S.  Barton  in  1877. 

General  Progress  from  1722  to  1877. 

As  to  the  relative  growth  and  progress  of  the  town  in  popula- 
tion, at  different  periods,  from  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  in 
1722,  when  there  were  some  two  hundred  souls,  the  population 
had  increased  to  1475  in  1765,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  re- 
volution in  1775  to  1925.  This  was  deemed  a  very  satisfactory 
growth  considering  all  the  dangers  from  the  savages  wlio  still 
continued  to  haunt  the  place  for  many  years,  the  loss  from  the 
cutting  off  of  Holden  in  1740,  the  subsequent  French  and  In- 
dian wars,  &c.  Three  other  towns  in  the  county,  since  then 
cut  up  into  additional  town  organizations,  had  then  larger 
populations  than  Worcester,  the  census  of  one  hundred  years 
ago  giving  Lancaster  2746,  Brookfield  2649  and  Men  don  2322 
inhabitants.  During  the  ten  years  from  1765  to  1775,  Worces- 
ter increased  about  five  hundred  in  population,  Lancaster  750, 
Brookfield  840  and  Mendon  500. 

From  1775  to  1790,  Worcester  remained  nearly  stationary 
in  population,  owing  to  the  troubles  caused  by  the  revolution- 
ary war,  another  slice  of  territory  having  in  the  mean  time 
been  cut  off  to  constitute  the  town  of  Ward,  (now  Auburn,) 
incorporated  in  1778.  During  the  ten  years  ending  in  1800, 
there  was  an  increase  of  but  a  little  over  four  hundred,  and 
only  an  increase  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  during  the 
succeeding  ten  years  to  1810,  and  less  than  four  luindred  dur- 
ing   the  ensuing  ten  years  to  1820,  when  the  number  was 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  197 

2962.  Tho  next  five  years  the  population  increased  to 
3650,  in  1830  it  was  4172,  and  in  1835,  it  was  6624, 
an  increase  of  about  2500  in  five  years,  and  about  three 
thousand  in  ten  years,  the  greater  increase  at  this  latter 
period  being  in  consequence  of  tlie  opening  of  tho  Blackstone 
canal,  the  first  boat  of  which  passed  through  iho  whole  route 
from  Providence,  and  arrived  at  the  upi)er  basin  on  Central 
street  in  Worcester,  Oct.  7,  1828.  This  latter  enterprise,  how- 
ever, while  giving  a  temporary  impetus  to  business  here,  turn- 
ed out  to  be  rather  unprofitable  to  the  stockholders,  owing  to 
the  adoption,  not  long  after  it  went  into  operation  of  a  much 
more  ra])id,  expeditious  and  efficient  mode  of  passenger  com- 
munication and  freight  transportation,  by  rail,  with  all  sections 
of  the  country.  The  old  canal,  about  forty  miles  long  from 
Worcester  to  Providence,  cost  about  1750,000,  more  than  half 
a  million  of  wdiich  w^as  contributed  by  Rhode  Island,  and  the 
remainder  by  Massachusetts,  the  capitalists  and  leading  busi- 
ness men  in  Worcester  and  other  towns  in  this  county  on  its 
line,  or  affected  by  it,  contributing  the  remainder.  The  State 
commissioners  having  the  general  management  or  direction  of 
it,  were  Gov.  John  Davis  and  Col.  John  W.  Lincoln  of  Worces- 
ter, for  Massachusetts,  and  Edward  Carrington,  Moses  B.  Ives 
and  Stephen  H.  Smith  of  Providence,  for  Rhode  Island. 
Anthony  Chase  of  Worcester  was  the  local  agent,  charge 
of  its  interests  here,  and  having  his  office  on  Central  street. 
Tlie  amount  of  tolls  collected  npon  it  for  different  years  of  its 
operation,  was  as  follows  :  In  1828,  11000  ;  in  1829,  '$8,606  ; 
in  1831, 114,945  ;  in  1832,  $18,907  ;  in  1833, 117,545 ;  in  1834, 
$16,464;  in  1835,  $14,433  ;  in  1836,  $11,500.  The  number 
of  barrels  of  flour  transported  over  it  in  1834  was  21,158  ;  in 
1835,  the  number  decreased  to  16,278 ;  and  in  1836  to  10,025. 
From  this  point  the  business  rapidly  decreased,  and  the  boats 
soon  after  ceased  running,  very  naturally  beginning  the  de- 
crease of  tolls  during  the  year  1835,  the  middle  of  which  wit- 
nessed the  first  communication  by  rail  with  tide  water,  at  Bos- 
ton. 

The  opening  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad  in  1835, 
the  Western  to  Springfield  in  1839,  the  Norwich  and  Worces- 


198 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 


tor  in  1840,  the  Providence  and  Worcester  in  1846,  the  Wor- 
cester and  Nasluia  in  1848,  the  Boston,  Barre  and  Gardner 
Railroad  in  1872,  and  other  business  enterprises  of  whicli  Wor- 
cester has  become  a  grand  centre,  have  caused  the  remarkable 
increase  in  population  and  business  here  during  the  last  forty 
years,  from  a  little  over  six  thousand,  with  a  valuation  of  but 
iittle  more  than  $3,000,000,  to  a  population  of  50,000  with  a 
valuation  off 50,000,000. 

The  enormous  amount  of  the  present  passenger  and  freight 
business  on  these  different  roads,  as  compared  with  the  state  of 
things  at  their  beginning,  is  the  best  index  of  the  wonderful 
growth  of  Worcester  during  the  last  forty  years,  since  the  writer 
of  this  first  became  a  resident  of  the  place,  and  a  review  of  this 
period  will  form  a  subject  of  future  portions  of  tliis  work. 


BURTAL  GROUNDS,  ETC. 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R     XIII 


Turj  First  Burial  Places, 

Tlic  first  place  selected  by  our  fathers  for  tlie  burial  of  tlie 
dead,  Avas  on  tlic  north  corner  of  Summer  and  Tliomas  streets, 
a  path  leading  to  it  from  Lincoln  Square.  A  thick  grove  of 
forest  oaks  then  waved  tlieir  brandies  over  the  spot,  wliere, 
during  the  last  halt' century,  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  yoiitli 
of  the  town  and  city  have  received  their  first  rudiments  of  ed- 
ucation, and  danced  unconsciously  over  the  graves  of  the  (irst 
settlers,  some  of  tliem  tlieir  own  ancestors.  The  first  burial 
here  was  that  of  the  body  of  '*  Rachel,  daughter  of  John  and 
Jean  Kellough,"  (sometimes  spelled  Kelogth,  and  afterwaids 
Kellogg,)  who  died  Dec.  15,  1717,  being  the  first  death  after 
tlie  beginning  of  the  third  or  permanent  settlement.  During 
the  following  thirteen  years,  till  1730,  when  the  burial  ground 
on  the  old  common  began  to  be  used,  twenty-eight  more  per- 
sons were  interred  at  the  first  place,  averaging  about  two  each 
year. 

Among  the  lirst  persons  interred  on  the  old  common,  where 
an  acre  of  land  on  the  east  side  was  reserved  for  burial  pur- 
poses, was  John  Young,  Scotch  Irish  emigrant,  born  in  the  Isle 
of  Bert,  near  Londonderry,  Ireland,  who  died  June  27,  17o0, 
aged  93,  as  the  town  records  say,  but  on  the  old  tomb  stone, 
now  buried,  the  extraordinary  age  of  107,  was  inscribed  ;  on 
the  same  stone  was  afterwards  put  the  name  of  his  son,  David 
Young;  wdio  died  Dec.  26,  177(3,  aged  94.  William  Young, 
probably  a  son  of  David,  was  author  of  many  of  the  inscriptions 
in  this  cemetery. 

The  first  town  sexton  and  grave  digger  mentioned  on  the  re- 
cords, is  Thomas   Stearns,  keeper  of  the  old    ""Kings  Arms" 


200  Eeminiscences  of  Worcester. 

tavern,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Lincohi  House. 
He  was  chosen  bv  the  Selectmen  in  accordance  with  the  vote 
at  the  annual  March  meeting  in  1728,  instructing  them  to  pro- 
vide some  suitable  person  to  "  take  care  of  and  sweep  the  meet- 
ing-house, and  also  to  dig  the  graves  as  there  may  be  occa- 
sion," his  pay  for  "  taking  care  of  and  sweeping  the  meeting- 
house for  the  year  ensuing  to  be  four  shillings."  Oct.  11,  fol- 
lowing, the  same  individual  was  chosen'*  pound  keeper  till 
further  orders."  At  the  annual  Marcli  meeting  in  1728,  Daniel 
Ward  was  cliosen  to  ''  take  care  of  and  sweep  the  meeting- 
house for  the  year  ensuing,  to  have  twenty  shillings  for  the 
w^ork."  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1730,  the  additional  charge 
Avas  given  to  the  sexton  chosen  to  "  keep  the  burying  cloth  ;" 
and  in  1782  "to  provide  water  for  baptism."  At  the  latter 
meeting,  Wm.  Nichols  was  chosen  town  sexton  and  grave  dig- 
ger, to  attend  to  those  duties.  Capt.  Moses  Rice,  who  kept  tl;e 
first  tavern  on  tlie  site  of  the  late  V.  S.  Hotel,  served  several 
years  as  sexton,  subsequent  to  the  above. 

xVt  the  March  meeting  in  17-)4,  the  Selectmen  were  instruct- 
ed to  "  measure,  lay  out,  and  locate  the  new  burying  place," 
and  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting  *'  in  regard  to  the  clear- 
ing and  fencing  of  the  same,  what  they  ajiprehend  the  cost 
thereof  may  be." 

The  next  recorded  action  on  this  matter  was  May  2.  1737, 
when  Capt.  Daniel  Heywood,  Ensign  Daniel  Ward  and  Samuel 
I^rown  were  appointed  a  committee  to  •'  agi-ee  with  a  suitable 
jjerson  or  persons  at  the  cluirge  of  the  town  to  fence  the  burial 
place  in  such  a  manner  as  they  may  judge  proper — to  contain 
an  acre  and  a  half  if  it  may  l»e — and  report  thereon  to  the 
town."  The  matter  lay  over  till  April  3,  1738,  when  the  town 
by  vote  instructed  the  above  committee  to  '^  proceed  as  speedily 
as  may  be"  in  the  work  tbey  were  directed  to  do,  and  to  "  fence 
in  the  burial  ground  with  a  two  railed  fence  and  a  stone  wall 
under  it,  and  lay  their  account  before  the  town  for  payment." 
At  the  March  meeting  in  1730,  Palmer  Goulding,  James  Hol- 
den  and  Phinehas  Heywood  were  added  to  the  committee  hav- 
ing the  work  in  charge,  with  additional  instructions  to  "  pro- 
ceed in  that  affair  and  complete  the  same  as  soon  as   may  be." 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  201 

This  Phiiielias  Heywood  was  a  Ijrother  of  Capt.  Daniel  Hey- 
wood,  father  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Heywood,  and  grandfather  of 
the  late  Dr.  l^enjaniin  F.  Heywood.  Fhinehas  afterwards  lived 
in  Shrewsbury,  where  he  was  distinguished  in  revolutionary 
times. 

Tiic  work  of  this  enlarged  and  able  committee,  however,  pro- 
ceeded so  slowly,  that  they  had  to  be  jogged  every  year  with 
similar  instructions  to  '*  hurry  up  ;"  a  vote  of  1743  directing 
that  the  ground  be  "inclosed  with  a  board  fence  let  into  cedar 
posts."  Another  vote  hurrying  up  the  committee,  was  passed 
May  IC),  1744. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Oct.  8, 1744,  Thomas  Wheeler,  John 
Chandler,  Jr.,  and  John  Chadvvick  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
*•'  fence  in  the  burying  place  with  a  good  substantial  stonewall, 
four  feet  high,  to  be  18  perch  on  the  north  easterly  side,  12 
perch  on  the  south  easterly  side,  20  perch  on  the  south  wester- 
ly side,  and  live  perch  on  the  north  westerly  side,  in  which 
there  must  be  a  gate,  the  sum  of  Xlo  to  be  appropriated  for 
the  work."  This  made  the  length  of  the  wall  on  the  side  next 
to  Front  street  about  three  hundred  feet,  the  end  abutting  on 
what  is  Salem  Square  200  feet,  the  side  next  to  Park  street  330 
feet,  and  the  end  next  to  the  meeting-house,  reaching  about  to 
the  centre  of  the  common,  82  1-2  feet,  thus  enclosing  about  an 
acre  of  ground  or  43,000  square  feet. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Oct.  31,  1749,  Deacon  Thomas 
Wheeler  was  "  desired,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  erect  a  suitable 
gate  at  the  burial  place  ;"  and  at  a  meeting  held  May  13, 1751, 
the  sum  often  shillings  was  allowed  to  Asa  Moore  for  ''mend- 
ing the  pound  and  stocks,  and  for  new  hinges  for  the  burial 
place  gate."  Oct.  1,  1753,  the  sum  of  <£3  was  granted  for  re- 
pairing the  meeting-house  and  fencing  the  burial  place  ;"  and 
Capt.  Daniel  Heywood  and  Capt.  Thomas  Stearns  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  "  see  that  the  burial  place  gate  be  hung, 
the  wall  be  mended  up,  and  poled  with  good  peeled  poles,  soon 
as  can  be  done."  Sept.  13,  1756,  the  sum  of  <£6  was  granted 
the  Selectmen  to  "procure  a  decent  burying  cloth." 

It  would  thus  appear  that  the  early  '•'  fathers  of  the  town" 
were  reasonably  solicitous  and  attentive  re^rarding  all  matters 
26 


202  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

pertaining  to  the  resting  place  of  the  dead.  The  old  burial 
ground  on  the  Common  remained  very  much  in  the  same  condi- 
tion, as  to  its  bounds  and  outside  surroundings,  as  described 
above,  up  to  a  period  within  the  memory  of  many  still  living. 

The  tomb  of  the  distinguished  Chandler  family  occupied  a 
prominent  position  among  the  trees  not  far  from  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  brick  school-house,  recently  standing  on  the  Com- 
mon, under  the  north  easterly  brow  of  the  hill  then  there. 
This  tomb  was  torn  down  during  the  revolution,  or  at  its  com- 
mencement, wdien  the  leading  representatives  of  that  family 
left,  on  account  of  their  sympathy  with  the  mother  country. 
Over  this  tomb,  or  where  it  once  was,  as  the  hill  there  was 
steepest,  the  school  children  were  wont  to  coast  on  sleds  in  win- 
ter, and  sport  in  the  shade  of  the  branching  trees  in  summer, 
unconscious  of  the  "  honored  dust"  reposing  beneath. 

On  the  northerly  side  of  the  enclosure,  and  near  the  centre 
of  the  sloping  bank  adjoining  the  path  from  the  west  to  the 
present  soldiers'  monument,  were  the  tombs  of  the  Dix  and 
Wheeler  families,  remembered  by  many  of  our  older  citizens, 
they  having  been  removed  within  the  last  forty  years,  since  the 
beginning  of  the  grading  of  this  old  burial  place. 

Near  the  easterly  side  stood  till  after  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century  the  first  cattle  pound  built  in  1723,  and  near 
the  south-east  corner  was  one  of  the  ten  small  school-houses 
built  in  the  different  districts  of  the  old  town  in  1800.  The 
gate  to  the  enclosure  was  in  the  middle  of  the  west  side,  on  the 
right  side  of  it  was  a  little  building  for  the  storage  of  the 
hearse,  and  on  [the  left  side  another  for  the  "  county  gal- 
lows." The  gun-house,  or  headquarters  of  the  old  "  Worcester 
artillery,"  stood  about  on  the  site  of  the  present  flag  staff, 
nearly  on  a  line  with  the  two  other  buildings  last  mentioned. 
The  "  march  of  improvement"  long  since  swept  away  all  these 
old  relics  of  the  past,  they  disappearing  about  the  time  the  old 
stone  wall  was  removed,  and  the  enclosure  graded. 

The  principal  or  original  part  of  this  grading  w^as  done  about 
the  year  1812  or  1813,  the  sum  of  8700  being  appropriated 
during  the  latter  year  for  the  object,  most  of  the  stones  in  the 
surrounding  wall  being  taken  for  the  construction  of  paved 
cross  walks  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  "  Central  Hotel." 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  203 

About  the  time  our  thriving  town  became  a  city,  the  ques- 
tion of  removing  the  remains  of  those  wlio  had  found  a  resting 
place  in  this  cemetery  for  more  than  a  century,  or  doing  some- 
thing to  secure  the  graves  of  more  than  three  hundred  of  our 
forefathers  from  continued  desecration  and  disgrace,  began  to 
be  agitated  and  discussed  by  the  municipal  authorities  as  well 
as  the  citizens  generally,  and  in  the  public  prints.  Finally, 
August  22,  1853,  the  City  Council  adopted  an  order  by 
which  Aldermen  Charles  White  and  Moses  D.  Philhps,  and 
Councilmen  James  S.  Woodworth,  Charles  Washburn  and 
Samuel  B.  Dennis  were  appointed  a  committee  to  "  cause  a 
careful  and  accurate  survey  to  be  made  of  the  old  burying 
ground  upon  tlie  Common,  and  to  cause  a  plan  or  map  of  the 
same  to  be  drawn,  upon  which  shall  be  delineated  every  grave 
properly  marked  or  numbered,  and  cause  substantial  bounds  to 
be  set  at  every  angle  and  in  such  other  places  as  they  may  think 
proper  or  necessary,  tlie  inscriptions  of  every  stone  or  monu- 
ment now  standing  to  be  copied  and  preserved,  and  then  to 
bury  all  these  stones  at  least  twelve  inches  under  the  surface 
of  the  ground  upon  the  graves,  where  they  now  stand;  that 
they  then  cause  the  surface  of  the  ground  to  be  smoothed  over, 
not  clianging  the  grade  in  any  place  so  as  to  injure  any  trees 
that  shall  be  left  standing ;  that  they  then  cause  all  the  under- 
brush to  be  removed,  and  also  as  many  of  the  trees  as  tliey  shall 
deem  proper,  by  transplanting  at  the  appropriate  season,  with- 
out impairing  the  beauty  of  the  grove." 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  order,  (many  of 
the  details  of  which  had  been  anticipated  or  suggested  by 
one  of  our  public  spirited  fellow  citizens,  Wm.  S.  Barton,  Esq., 
now  filling  the  office  of  City  Treasurer,  who  had  copied  all  the 
inscriptions  referred  to,  and  printed  them  in  a  neat  pamphlet 
for  future  reference  and  use,)  a  map  and  list  of  inscriptions 
were  prepared  by  Gill  Valentine,  Esq.,  city  surveyor,  and 
placed  in  the  custody  of  the  City  Clerk,  and  the  various  monu- 
ments were  buried  over  the  remains  of  those  intended  to  be 
commemorated  thereby. 

The  principal  burials  on  the  old  Common  are  indicated  in 
the  following  list : 


204  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Burials  on  the  Old  Common. 

Samuel  Aniirow,  Sept  24, 176(),  aged  46. 
'  Nathaniel  and  Lucy  Adams,  died  in  1776. 

(Charles  Adams,  Nov.  3,  17 TS,  aged  M. 

nanuali,  April  18,  1727,  aged  27,  v/lfe  of  JoUn  Hubbard,.  He  was  one  of  the  first  board  of  town 
oificers.  This  is  probably  the  first  interment  on  the  old  common,  or  the  remains  must  have  been 
at  first  liuried  eljse-.vhei'e,  and  removed  here. 

Zeplianiah  Kice,  died  May  10, 1730,  aged  30.  He  was  son  of  Joshua  Rice,  (.see  pages  20  and  22), 
and  married  Mary,  sister  of  Dea.  Daniel  Hey  wood,  {mh;  page  .30,)  and  of  their  daughters,  one,  Mary, 
married  Lieut.  Jacob  Ilemenway,  (.-Jee  page  IK),)  and  another,  Anna,  married  Keuljen  Miles.  This 
Zephaniah  Kic«  vras  town  clerk  three  jears  previous  to  his  decease. 

Ephraim  Koper,  Feb.  16, 1731,  aged  43,  accidentally  killed  while  hunting. 

Isaac,  son  of  Capt.  Micah  and  Phebe  Johnson,  Nov.  26, 1782, aged  25. 

William  Jennison,  born  in  Watertown,  April  17,  1676,  died  in  vVorcester,  Sept.  19, 1741, aged  G6, 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Dec.  2, 1756,  aged  86.     He  was  judge,  selectman,  etc.     (See  page  56.) 

James  Taylor,  Feb.  24,  1743,  aged  70,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  July  14,  1755,  aged  82:  Othniel 
Taylor,  probably  son  of  the  preceding,  July  29, 1779,  aged  81  ;  lived  on  Plantation  street,  near 
Wigwam  hill.     Dinah,  wife  of  the  latter,  March  29, 1746,  aged  38. 

Jem,  wife  of  Wm.  Young,  March  30, 1743,  aged  27. 

Martha  Boyd,  wife  of  David  Young.  Oct.  6,  1749,  aged  65. 

(Japt.  Benjamin  Flagg,  June  12,  1751,  aged  61  ;  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Nov.  3,  1769,  aged  77.  (See 
page  107.) 

Andrew  McFarland,  June  4,  1761,  aged  71  ;  his  wife  Rebecca,  March  20,  1762,  aged  02. 

James  McFarland,  April  9, 1783,  aged  56. 

James  Forbush,  Jr. ,  xMarch  11,  1762,  aged  38 

Zebudah,  wife  of  Joseph  I'otter,  Jan.  24,  1767,  aged  33. 

John,  son  of  John  and  Kesiah  Waters,  Feb.  11,1767,  aged  23.  Resided  in  the  Waters  house 
south  east  of  the  Common. 

Absalom  Rice,  July  27,  1781,  aged  72  :  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Aug.  3,  1792,  aged  76. 

Maj   Jonas  Rice,  the  first  permanent  settler,  Sept.  22,  1753,  aged  81.     (.^ee  page  40.) 

Jonathan  Lynde,  Dec.  4, 1755,  aged  41,  and  seven  children. 

John  Ball,  Jan.  11, 1756,  aged  59. 

Jonathan  Gates,  Feb.  7,  1756.  aged  73. 

James  Taylor,  3d,  Feb  20,  1756,  aged  26  ;  was  in  the  fight  at  Lake  George. 

Francis  Smith,  April  17,  1756,  aged  36. 

Capt.  James  Moore,  Sept  29,  1756,  Jiged  68  ;  his  wife  Comfort,  June  22, 1765,  aged  63  ;  daughter 
Sarah,  June  3,  1765,  aged  28. 

John  Fiske,  Nov.  2,  1756,  aged  75  :  hi.?  wife  Elizabeth,  in  17t>S 

Jonathan  Fiske,  Jan.  8,  1781,  aged  52. 

Adam  Knox,  Feb.  28, 1759,  aged  66- 

Samuel  .^liller,  born  in  Newton,  Sept.  24, 1678,  died  in  Worcester,  Sept.  9,  17.59,  aged  81. 

Capt.  Samuel  Clark  Paine,  (brother  of  Hon.  Timothy  Paine,)  died  of  small  pox,  Nov.  9,  1759, 
aged  32  :  he  was  commander  of  a  company  at  the  reduction  of 'liconderoga  and  Crown  Point. 

Persis  (Gates,)  wife  of  Adonijah  Rice,  Jan.  6,  1760.     (See  page  41.) 

Robert  Smith,  July  4,  1807,  aged  80  ;  and  his  wife  Sarah  E.,  in  1760. 

Experience,  wife  of  Capt.  Thomas  Cowden,  died  Apr.  .3,  1760,  aged  30,  with  three  children.  He 
went  to  Fitchburg  in  1765,  where  he  died  in  1792,  aged  72.  He  seived  in  the  French  and  Indian 
and  Revolutionary  wars.  He  came  to  Worcester  about  1743,  and  had  a  blacksmith  shop  on  Main 
street, 

Samuel  Mower,  May  8, 1760,  aged  70.  He  was  grandfather  of  Maj.  Ephniim  Mower  who  died  in 
1810,  and  great-grandfather  of  the  late  Capt.  Ephraim  Mower. 

Capt.  Samuel  Mower,  Jan.  24,  1784,  aged  64,  and  his  second  wife  Sarah,  Oct.  10, 1774.  aged  49 
His  first  wife  was  Comfort  (Larned),  and  they  were  parents  of  Ebenezer  Mower  who  died  in  1861, 
aged  100. 

Mary,  wife  of  Dea.  Thomas  Wheeler,  May  IS,  1740,  aged  40. 

Dr.  Charles  Wheeler,  June  3, 1761,  aged  61,  and  his  wife  Susannah,  Sept.  23,  17*30,  aged  58. 

Eunice,  wife  of  Josiah  Flagg,  Dec.  26,  1785,  aged  28. 

Margaret,  wife  of  James  Ilambleton,  Feb.  14,  1761,  aged  35,  and  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Andrew  McFarland,  June  4, 1761,  aged  71 :  and  his  wife  Rebecca,  March  20,  1762,  aged  62  Tlieir 
son,  James  McFarland,  April  9,  1783,  aged  56.     They  lived  on  Pleasant  street  near  Tatnuck. 

Dr.  John  Green,  (son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Green,  founder  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Greenville,  Leices- 
ter,) died  Oct.  29,  1799,  aged  64;  his  first  wife  Mary,  Sept.  5.  1761;  and  his  second  wife  Mary, 
June  16,  1814,  aged  74. 

Jonathan  Moore,  Nov.  25, 1761,  aged  84. 

Wm.  Mahan,  June  30,  1763,  aged  69  ;  his  wife  Margaret,  Feb.  5, 1767,  aged  68. 

John  Mahan,  Oct.,  1789,  aged  32. 

Matthew  Gray,  Feb.  16,  1783,  aged  73  ;  and  his  wife  Jean,  Dee.  20, 1764,  aged  48. 

Gershom  Rice,  Dec.  19,  1768,  aged  102  ;  his  son,  Lieut.  Gershom  Rice.  Jr.,  Sept.  24,  1781,  aged 
85.     (See  page  41.) 

Daniel  Heywood,  Jr.,  June  30, 1756,  aged  29. 

Abel  Heywood,  Nov.  29,  1769,  aged  40.     (See  page  30.) 

Dea.  Daniel  Heywood,  April  12,  1773,  aged  79  :  his  wife  Hannah,  Feb.  24,  1760,  aged  64,  and 
his  wife  Marv,  April  9, 1768,  aged  65.     (See  page  80.) 

Robert  Blair,  Oct.  14,  1774,  aged  91 :  his  wife  Isabella,  Feb.  10,  1765,  aged  82.  Scotch  Presby- 
terian emigrants  of  1718.     (See  page  127. ) 

Capt.  Thomas  Sterne  (afterwards  spelled  Ste^ims,)  Jan.  16. 1772,  aged  76  ;  his  wife  -Mary,  July  19, 
1784,  aged  77.    Kept  the  "  King's  Arras"  hotel.    (See  page  58  ) 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  205 

Samuel  Kingslcy,  Sept.  25, 1773,  aged  57. 

Wm.  Swan,  A])nl  18,  1774,  agod  59.  He  was  one  of  the  first  choir  of  the  Old  South  Church,  in 
March,  1770,  with  .lames  McFarland,  .Tonathan  Stone  and  Ebcnezer  Flagg,  when  the  first  introduc- 
tion of  choir  music  in  the  church  service  caused  so  much  excitement  that  the  venerable  Dea.  Jacob 
Ohnmberlain,  who  strenously  opposed  this  interference  witli  his  prerogative  in  leading  the  psalm 
reading,  absented  himself  from  the  church  services  for  several  Sabbaths. 

Isaac  Gleason,  Jan.  7,  177>>,  aged  57. 

Daniel,  son  of  Daniel  Bigelow,  Aug.  29,  1776,  aged  48.     (See  page  45  ) 

('ai)t.  James  Goodwin,  June  2,  1770,  aged  62  ;  was  in  the  French  and  Tndi.an  war  in  1757  ;  bis 
wife  Mary,  July  19,  1749,  aged  33. 

Dea.  Nathaniel  Moore,  Nov.  25,  1761,  aged  83  ;  his  son  Nathaniel.  July  19,  1811.  aged  96,  and  the 
latter's  wife  Mehitable,  April  25,  18(19,  aged  89.     (See  jmge  41.) 

Nathaniel  Fullerton,  Feb.  16,  1777.  aged  38.  He  resided  on  the  east  corner  of  Pleasant  and 
High  streets.  Tiio  old  house  in  which  he  lived,  (removed  to  I'ine  Meadow,  when  the  house  now- 
standing  on  its  site,  was  built  by  Paine  and  Cyrenus  Aldrich  in  1840,)  was  nsed  for  a  while  after 
Fullertou's  death,  as  temporary  quarters  for  a  portion  of  Burgoyne's  soldiers  after  their  surrender 
in  1777,  they  being  afterwards  quartered  in  Rutland,  where  commodious  barracks  120  by  20  feet, 
were  erected  for  the  purpose,  and  the  whole  captured  army  was  quartered  there  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1788  in  twenty-four  ronms,  each  20  feet  square.  The  Fullerton  house,  (afterwards  owned 
and  occupied  by  Samuel  Warden,)  was  lined  inside  with  bricks,  and  otherwise  made  secure  against 
escape  of  the  prisoners  during  their  temporary  confinement  therein.  Isaiah  Thomas  subsequently 
resided  in  this  house  for  a  time  until  the  erectioji  of  his  palatial  mansion  on  Court  Hill,  about  1788. 

Capt.  James  Moore,  Sept.  29,  1756,  aged  68.  and  his  wife  t!omfort,  June  22,  1765,  aged  63. 

Capt.  David  Moore,  Feb.  25,  1794,  aged  (54,  and  his  wife  Eleanor,  Oct.  1,  1791,  aged  (33. 

Katrine,  wife  of  Joseph  Moore,  Mar.  12, 1755,  aged  41. 

llebekah,  wife  of  James  Moore,  July  19,  1788,  aged  39. 

Asa  Moore,  June  30,  1800,  aged  89  ;  his  wife  Sarah,  Dec.  13, 1760  :  his  wife  Lucy,  March  11, 1800, 
aged  76. 

Capt.  Palmer  Goulding,  senior,  Feb.  11,  1770,  aged  75;  and  his  wife  Abigail.  (See  page  50  ) 
Capt  Palmer  Goulding,  Jr.,  Jan.  30,1792.  aged  69,  and  his  wife  Abigail  (Hevwood  )  Abigail, 
daughter  of  the  latter,  Sept.  26,  1795,  aged  25.  Peter  Goulding,  July  22,  1790,  aged  54.  Ignatius 
Goulding  died  in  1787.     (See  page  52.) 

I'hiiiehas  Flagg,  (son  of  Col.  Benjamin,  and  father  of  the  present  Benjamin  Flagg,)  Oct.  1,  1791, 
aged  .^9. 

Krancis  Harrington,  July  18,  1793,  aged  84  ;  his  wife  Deborah,  April  20,  1799,  aged  84. 

Francis  Harrington.  Apiil  6,  1768,  aged  31 

Nathaniel  Harrington,  Feb.  28,  1831,  aged  89  ;  his  wife  Ruth,  Aug.  21, 1817,  aged  69  ;  parents  of 
Capt.  Francis  Harrington. 

Dea.  Jacob  Chamberlain,  March  17,  1790,  aged  71 ;  his  wife  Lydia,  Dec.  29,  1768,  aged  44.  (See 
page  125.) 

Coroner  Daniel  Hubbard,  April  28,  1787,  aged  90  ;  his  wife  Dorothy,  April  14, 1769,  aged  71. 

John  Chadwii'k,  Sept  3,  17(:3,  aged  86  :  his  wife  Hannah,  May  4,  1752. 

•lohn  Chad  wick,  Jr.,  July  17,  17(58,  aged  67;  his  wife,  Dec,  1766,  aged  46. 

Elijah  Harrington,  Feb.  3,  1811,  aged  77  :  his  wife  Azubah,  April  27, 1768,  aged  .34. 

Ebenezer  Wiswall,  Maich  19,  1809,  aged  87  ;  his  wife  Irena,  Dec.  31,  1793,  aged  76. 

Joseph  Wiley,  May  9. 1776, aged  63  ;  Mrs.  Martha  Wiley,  May  6,  1794,  aged  48. 

John  Bush,  Jan.  28, 1816,  aged  61  ;  his  wife  Hannah,  Feb.  1,  1807,  aged  40.     (See  page  21. ) 

Catherine,  daughter  of  Thomas  Drowne,  late  of  Boston,  Jan.  23,  1807,  aged  70;  his  daughter 
Mary,  Oct.  21,  1816,  aged  65. 

Josiah  Perry,  Sept.  16, 17(i7,  aged  83  ;  great-grandfather  of  Capt.  Samuel  Perry.    (See  page  100  ) 

Robert  Barber,  Sept.  27,  1769,  aged  69 :  his  wife  Sarah,  June  9,1790,  aged  86.  Settled  on  the 
BarVjer  homestead  in  Northville.  Maria,  wife  of  Joseph  Barber,  (sou  of  the  precedin-'  )  April  7 
1781,  aged  39. 

James  Barber,  March  30,  1812,  aged  85  ;  he  resided  north-west  of  North  Pond. 

Simon  Gates,  April  11,  1777,  aged  66  ;  and  his  wife  Sarah,  Sept.  30,  1800,  aged  75  ;  camo  to  Wor' 
cestf'r  from  Marlborough  in  1749,  and  settleil  on  the  old  homestoiul  at  the  head  of  Gates'  lane,  run" 
niug  north  from  Leicester  street,  near  New  Worcester.  Their  son,  Simon  Gates,  died  Feb.,'l849» 
aged  '.(3,  in  the  same  room  in  which  he  was  born.     They  have  numerous  descendants. 

Luke  Brown.  Jr.,  Nov.  6,  1776.  aged  31  ;  Thomas  Brown,  Dec.  11,  1776,  aged  40  ;  James  Brown, 
J.-in.  11, 1778,  aged  67,  and  his  wife  Rebekah,  Feb.  26,1756,  aged  42;  Lieut.  Samuel  Brown,  Mav 
25,  1785,  aged  42. 

.Mary,  wife  of  Jonathan  Stone,  Aug.  7,1773,  aged  47  :  her  husband  was  buried  in  Auburn. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ezekiel  Howe,  Sept.  13,  1776,  aged  58. 

James  Tanner,  innholder,  April  8, 1782,  aged  68  ;  his  wife  Sarah,  Sept.  19,  1785,  age<l  73;  James 
Tanner.  Jr.,  Sept.  6, 1778,  aged  36 ;  Capt  John  Tanner,  Jan.  10,  1784,  aged  44. 

John  Greenleaf,  from  Boston.  Feb.  21, 1779,  aged  64. 

Abraham  Wheeler.  Oct.  20,  1780,  aged  80. 

Capt.  Israel  Jennison,  Sept.  19,  1782,  aged  09;  his  wife  Mary,  June  19,  1775,  aged  57;  their 
daughter  Abigail,  June  29, 1789,  aged  34  ;  their  son  Samuel,  Nov.  18,  1815,  aged  70.  Hotel  keeper. 
( Se<»  ])age  59 . ) 

Wm.  Elder,  July  27,  1786,  aged  79;  his  wife  Esther,  Aug.  31,  1772,  aged  59.  He  headed  the 
famous  protest  of  fifty-two  tories  in  1774.  He  resided  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  on  the  estate  now  owned 
and  occupied  bv  A.  W.  Ward. 

Samuel  Rice,"  Feb   10,  1781.  aged  89. 

Absalom  Rice,  July  27,  1781,  aged  72.     (See  p.ige  40. )     His  wife  ElizHbeth,  Aug.  3,  1792.  aged  76 

Capt.  John  Ciu-tls,  June  29,  1797,  aged  90  ;  his  first  wife  Rebekah,  March  24, 1755,  aged  45  ;  his 
second  wife  Elizabeth  ( Prentice),  Nov.  14,  1802,  aged  90.     (See  page  34. ) 

Maj.  Daniel  ^^  ard,  Miy  21,  1777,  aged  77,  and  his  wife  Sarah,  Nov   1, 1730.     (See  page  31.) 


206  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Lieut.  Noah  Jones,  July  6,  1781,  aged  70  ;  his  wife  Rebekah,  Jan.  12, 1771,  aged  46;  his  brother 
Capt.  VV'ra.  Jones,  April  6, 1777,  aged  73.     Hotel-keepers,     (i^ee  pages  32  and  36. 

Kev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,  July  20,  1784,  aged  63:  and  his  wife  Mary,  Dec.  28,  1783,  aged  58; 
their  daughter  Lucy,  June  21,  1813,  aged  53;  their  daughter  Elizabeth,  March  25,  1823,  aged  70. 
Mary,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Maccarty,  Jan.  13,  1821,  aged  64.     (See  pages  119  and  120.)^ 

John  Goddard,  June  26,  1785,  aged  87,  and  his  wife  Hannah,  Dec.  10,  1777,  aged  76. 

Samuel  Goddard,  June  12,  1803,  aged  71,  and  his  wife  Abigail,  April  8,  1804.  aged  64.  The  lat- 
tcr's  son  Samuel,  Jr.,  May  3, 1800,  aged  26,  their  daughter  Elizabeth,  Sept.  21, 1790,  aged  20,  and 
their  daughter  Lydia,  Aug.  9,  1778,  aged  13. 

Isaac  Barnard,  March  18,  1  788,  aged  86,  and  his  wife  Sarah,  April  9, 1806,  aged  97,  great-grand- 
parents of  the  present  Lewis  Barnard. 

Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  April  4,  1790,  aged  50.    (See  page  45.) 

Samuel,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hunt,  April  29, 1766,  aged  23.  Capt.  Hunt  went  from  Worcester  to 
Fitchburg,  about  that  time,  and  built  a  house  in  which  he  kept  the  first  taveru  ever  kept  there,  on 
the  spot  afterwards  occupied  by  James  L.  Haynes,  who  enlarged  the  old  house. 

James  Howe,  March  18,  1755,  aged  44. 

Samuel  Thomas,  May  20,  1755,  aged  67,  and  his  wife  Janet,  Aug.  18, 1756,  aged  56. 

Col.  Ebenczer  Lovell,  Dec  6, 1817,  aged  88  ;  his  wife  Abigail,  April  11,  1766,  aged  25. 

Increase  Blair,  Nov.  11,  1797,  aged  40  ;  his  wife  Huldah,  July  9,  1798,  aged  38  ;  and  two  children. 

AVm.  Harris,  March  29,  1782,  aged  82  ;  his  wife  Mary,  March  10, 1767,  aged  67. 

Noah  Harris,  Aug.  30, 1804,  aged  70  ;  wife  Phebe,  March  6, 1800,  aged  67. 

Sally,  wife  of  Lieut.  Benjamin  Andrews,  Nov.  9, 1796,  aged  34. 

Cornelius  Stowell,  Jan.  3,  1804,  aged  79 ;  his  wife  Servilla,  June  7,  1812,  aged  82  :  and  their  sons, 
Peter  Stowell,  July  16, 1810,  aged  48  ;  Abel  Stowell,  Aug.  3,  1818,  aged.  66  ;  Samuel  Stowell,  April 
14,  1774,  aged  25  :  and  Peter's  wife,  Relief  Stowell,  April  14,  1817,  aged  62.     (See  page  53.) 

Maj.  VVm.  Tread  well,  April  10,  1796,  aged  46.  Performed  meritorious  service  as  commander  of 
the,  old  Worcester  Artillery  in  the  revolutionary  war.  He  resided  on  the  north  corner  of  Main  and 
Central  streets,  his  old  mansion,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Hon.  Francis  Blake,  still  stand- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  Central  street,  ea.stof  the  Advent  Church. 

Mary  Ann  Barber,  Oct.  11,1802,  aged  67. 

Lieut.  Richard  Flagg  died  at  Holden,  Nov.  12, 1799,  aged  92  :  and  his  wife  Grace,  Dec.  4, 18C8, 
aged  100.     Parents  of  Col.  Samuel  Flagg.     (See  page  107. ) 

Col.  Samuel  Flagg,  Sept.  24, 1819,  aged  83  ;  and  his  wife  Dolly  Flagg,  March  11,  1824,  aged  85. 
They  are  among  the  very  last  buried  upon  the  old  common,  the  latter  being  the  last  one  named 
upon  the  records. 

Rebecca,  wife  of  James  Brown  Feb.  26, 1750,  aged  42, 

James  Carlyle,  1758  ;  his  wife  Mary,  Aug.  24, 1755,  aged  34. 

Hannah,  wife  of  Lieut.  John  Mower,  Sept.  24, 1784,  aged  59. 

Martha,  wife  of  Capt.  Simon  Stevens,  Aug.  10,  1817,  aged  79. 

Damaris,  wife  of  Lieut.  Cyprian  Stevens,  Sept.  28,  1787,  aged  79. 

Martha  Boyd,  wife  of  David  Young,  Oct.  6, 1749,  aged  65. 

Ebenezer  AVaters,  Aug.  27,  1813,  aged  38 

Tlie  burial  ground  upon  the  nortli  side  of  Mechanic  street, 
comprising  GT,600  square  feet  of  land,  began  to  be  used  in 
1795,  the  first  one  interred  therein  being  an  infant  son,  six 
months  old,  of  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  whose  death  took 
place  July  1,  1795.  This  ground  was  a  part  of  the  old  minis- 
terial land,  which  originally  extended  north  from  Front  street 
nearly  as  far  as  Exchange  street,  easterly  to  Mill  Brook,  and 
westerly  to  Main  street  at  some  points.  Mechanic  street  Avas 
opened  soon  after  the  selling  off  of  the  main  portion  of  the 
ministerial  land  in  1786,  also  what  is  now  called  Bridge  street 
was  then  opened  to  Front  street.  Tlie  construction  of  the  Bos- 
ton and  Worcester  Railroad  in  1835  necessitated  the  building 
of  a  bridge  over  the  extension  of  this  street  nortli,  and  as  a 
consequence  the  highway  had  to  be  cut  down,  and  a  bank  wall 
built  on  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  burial  ground.  In 
1837,  the  wall  bordering  on  Mechanic  street  was  reset,  and  a 
substantial  and  permanent  one  built,  as  it  now  appears,  with 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  207 

liewn  stone  posts  for  a  gate-way,  and  new  gates,  the  entrance 
to  the  ground  being  from  this  street. 

The  only  tomb  wliicii  has  ever  been  upon  the  Mechanic 
street  burial  ground,  is  that  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  built  in  1817,  at 
an  expense  of  between  f  5000  and  $6000,  which  appears  to-day, 
as  it  did  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  April  4,  1831,  aged  82. 
The  tomb  is  built  of  hewn  granite  blocks  from  three  to  six  feet 
in  length,  and  a  foot  and  a  half  in  thickness,  each  block  weigh- 
ing from  three  to  five  tons.  The  structure  is  six  feet  high, 
five  feet  deep  and  has  an  area  11  by  18  feet.  The  covering  is 
composed  of  five  pieces  of  hewn  granite  soldered  together 
with  type  metal.  It  is  located  in  the  north-west  corner  of 
the  ground,  but  a  few  feet  from  the  old  Boston  and  Worcester 
railroad  track.  The  entrance  to  the  tomb  is  from  the  south- 
west side  through  a  granite  door,  on  which  are  inscribed  the 
words  :  "  Isaiah  Tiiomas— built  1817." 

Burials  in  Mechanic   Street  Cemetery. 

James  Trowbridge,  July  21 ,  1806,  in  his  90th  year,  and  his  son,  Dea.  Wm.  Trowbridge  Sept  30 
1833,  aged  82;  Achsah,  wife  of  the  latter,  Nov.  13,  1847,  aged  88.     (Seepage  43.)  »      *-  •      > 

Beulah  Clements,  wife  of  Dea.  Moses  Clements,  and  daughter  of  L'ea.  V\m.  Trowbrid'^e  Feet  SO 
1820,  aged  39.  »  .  -  i   •      , 

Dea.  David  Bigelow,  May  10, 1810,  aged  79,  (brother  of  Col.  Timothy  Eigelov^,)  and  David's  wife 
Deborah  Bigelow,  May  23,  1822,  aged  86  ;  the  latter's  son,  Silas  Bigelow,  April  24,  1837,  a"ed  66  ' 
and  the  latter's  wife  Aretiiusa,  Dec.  23,  1815,  aged  44.     (See  page  44.)  .        '     o  i 

Jedediah  llealey,  Feb.  7,  1821,  aged  65,  and  his  wife  Sally,  Feb.  l,aged  G5,  within  six  days  of 
each  other  ;  and  their  son  John,  Sept.  17,  1809,  aged  26  Major  llealey  was  many  years  town  sex- 
ton, and  owned  and  occupied  what  was  afterwards  the  S.  M.  Burnside  estate  on  Main  street,  one  of 
his  buildings  still  standing  in  the  rear,  now  occupied  by  James  Pennimau  and  others,  being  for- 
merly occupied  for  some  years  as  a  Masonic  Hall. 

Col.  Phiuehas  Jones,  March  22,  1814,  aged  66  ;  kept  the  old  Jones  Tavern  near  New  Worcester. 

Betsey,  wife  of  Capt.  James  McFarland,  Sept.  8,  1805,  aged  48.  He  was  son  of  James  McFarland 
and  grandson  of  Andrew  McFarland,  who  settled  upon  the  old  McFarland  estate  near  Tatnuck' 
where  his  great-grandson,  the  late  Ira  McFarland,  lived.     (See  page  127.)  ' 

James  McFarland  died  in  Worcester,  March  22, 1801,  aged  34  ;  Andrew  McFarland  died  in  Barrc 
July  22,  1824,  aged  72  ;  and  their  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Tierce,  died  in  Rutland,  April  10,  1820,  aged 
60  ;  they  being. children  of  Wm.  and  Elizabeth  McFarland  of  Worcester,  who  resided  upon  the  old 
Rutland  road.     They  were  all  descendants  of  the  first  Andrew  McFarland. 

Col.  Benjamin  Flagg,  Oct  8,  1818,  aged  95;  his  son  Benjamin,  March  9,  1819,  aged  73,  and  the 
latter's  wife  Hannah,  July  21,  1843,  aged  97.  Col.  Benj.  Flagg's  son  Amos,  Dec.  17,  181 7, 'aged  32. 
(Se«  page  107.) 

Samuel  Flagg,  Esq.,  (son  of  Col.  Samuel  Flagg,)  March  5,  1825.  aged  50.  (His  father,  who  died 
Sept.  24, 1819,  aged  85,  and  his  mother.  Mrs.  Dolly  Flagg,  wife  of  Col.  Samuel,  who  died  March  11 
1824,  aged  88,  were  buried  upon  the  old  common,  the  latter  being  almost  the  last,  if  not  the  very 
last  one  interred  there.) 

Sarah ,  wife  of  Elijah  Flagg,  Aug.  16,  1831,  aged  66:  their  daughter  Catherine,  April  4  1829 
aged  39.  '      -  > 

Ensign  Isaac  Putnam,  April  23, 1808,  aged  45,  and  his  wife  Martha,  Aug.  24, 1816, aged 52  "rand- 
parents  of  the  present  Wm.,  Samuel  and  Henry  Putnam.    (See  page  98.)  '" 

Joel  Putnam,  Oct.  30, 1822,  aged  32. 

Nathan  Patch,  June  22,  1808,  aged  72  ;  his  wife  Eunice,  July  3,  1813,  aged  74  ;  their  daughter 
Lucy,  June  17,  1839,  aged  58,  and  son  Lieut.  Joseph  Patch,  April  8,  1836,  aged  76,  and  the  latter's 
wife  Hannah,  July  19,  1824,  aged  60. 

Elizabeth  (Stanton,)  Jau  18,  1820,  aged  50,  widow  of  Ebenezer  Putnam  and  granddaughter  of 
Judge  John  Chandler,  refugee  ;  James  Putnam,  Aug.  18,  1810,  aged  20,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  grand- 
son of  Hon.  James  Putnam,  the  distinguished  lawyer  and  tory  refugee. 

Capt.  John  Coolidge,  Jan  20,  1821, aged  35,  and  Nathan  B.  Coolidge,  June  5, 1813,  aged  19  sons 
of  Nathaniel  and  Catherine  Coolidge,  who  resided  in  the  house,  previously  owned  and  occupied  by 
Nathan  Baldwin,  and  afterwards  by  William  Eaton,  corner  of  Main  and  George  streets,  Mrs.  Cather- 
ine Coolidge  being  Mr.  Baldwin's  daughter.  (See  page  32.)  His  son  Erasmus,  Sept.  19,  1811,  aged  27. 


208  liemuiisceiices   of  Woreester. 

Daniel  Baird,  Dec.  9,  1819,  aged  77,  aud  his  wife  Jane,  April  15, 1811,  aged  64.  lie  kept  the 
Baird  TaverU. 

Arba  Legi?,  Sept.  o,  1819,  aged  9i. 

Dea.  David  Kichard.s,  Jan.  i:9,  1829,  aged  78,  and  his  wife  Rebecca,  Oct   l.'},  1834,  aged  82. 

Dea.  Nathan  Heard,  April  28,  1825,  aged  74,  (tatb^r  of  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  now  surviving  in  hia 
88th  year,)  aud  his  wife  Anna  in  18U7,aged  55  :  Sarah  in  1812,  aged  48,  and  Dinah,  Oct.  5,  1848 
aged  82. 

Capt.  Joshua  Whitney,  May  7,  1809,  aged  72  ;  his  wife  Mary,  July  4, 179(5,  aged  55  ;  and  his  wid- 
ow Abigail,  Oct.  5,  1538,  aged  94.  He  was  father  of  Israel  Whitney,  aud  lived  in  the  ancient  house, 
corner  of  Cambridge  and  Millbury  streets,  near  what  was  the  "  Whitney  "lock"'  iu  Blackstone  canal 
times. 

Asa  Ward,  (father  of  the  late  Artemas  Ward,  register  of  deeds,)  June  27,  1818,  aged  70,  and  his 
granddaughter  Sarah,  daughter  of  Asa  Ward,  Jr.,  Oct.  31,  1847,  aged  44. 

Samuel  Curtis,  Esq.,  Oct.  18,  1814,  aged  84.  and  his  wife  Mary,  June  3,  1830,  aged  95.  He  was 
prominent  in  revolutionary  times.  (See  (hirtis  Family,  page  38.)  His  son  Ephraim  died  Oct  9, 
1839,  aged  75,  and  the  latter's  wife  Mary,  Oct.  12,  aged  79,  within  three  days  of  each  other. 

Persis,  daughter  of  Christopher  Ranks,  Jan.  21  1847,  aged  87  :  her  brother  John  Ranks,  July  7, 
1835,  aged  63.  Christopher  Ranks  aud  his  sou  John  lived  at  the  head  of  Ranks'  lane,  runuiug  north 
from  Pleasant  street,  near  Tatnuck. 

Samuel  Allen,  Escj.,  Dec.  29,  183U,  aged  73.  He  was  county  treasurer  for  nearly  forty  years  till 
his  death,  and  brother  of  Hon.  Joseph  Alien.  He  resided  on  the  estate  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  H.  N.  Tower,  upon  which  Mr   Tower  built  his  present  residence  in  1848. 

Col.  Daniel  Clapp,  March  23,  1827,  aged  87,  register  of  deeds  from  1784  till  1816.  He  re- 
sided on  the  estate,  corner  of  Main  aud  Park  streets,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Hon. 
Charles  Allen. 

Lieut  Jacob  Hemenway,  Feb.  6, 1801,  aged  77,  and  his  wife,  June  27, 1802,  aged  75. 

Hon.  Benj>imin  He>wood,  Dec.  6,  1816,  aired  76  ;  his  brother,  Phinehas  Hey  wood,  April  21,  1821, 
aged  76.     Sewall  Heywood,  Oct   14,  1813,  aged  29. 

Capt.  Daniel  Heywood,  Dec.  15,  1809,  aged  55,  and  wife  Mary,  Jan.  9, 1809,  aged  53.  He  was  the 
third  one  of  the  .same  name,  who  kept  the  hotel,  afterwards  the  "  Central  Hotel.'"     (See  jiage  30. ) 

Daniel  Heywood,  (a  relative  of  the  preceding.)  Sept.  4,  1817,  aged  55  :  his  wife  Sally, April  1, 1814, 
aged  47.     Ground  enclosed  by  an  iron  fence. 
^Th(m)as  Rice,  Dec.  10,  1837,  aged  85  :  his  wife  Eliphal  Rice,  Sept  21, 1845,  aged  83. 

Natiianiel  Maccarty,  Esq.,  (sonof  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty  of  the  Old  South  Church),  Oct.  14, 
1831,  aged  73,  and  his  wife  Rebecca,  Dec.  11,  1836,  aged  56. 

Maj.  Ephraim  Mower,  (hotel-keeper.  &c  ,)  Dec.  20,  1810,  aged  62,  and  his  wife  Huldah,  March  10, 
1828,  aged  81.  His  brotlier  Thomas  Mower,  Sept.  14,  1800,  aged  50.  The  latter  was  father  of  Capt. 
Ephraim  Mower.  * 

Nancy,  wife  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Mower,  Feb.  18, 1822,  aged  20.  He  was  nephew  of  May  Ephraim 
Mower. 

Capt.  Azor  Phelps,  April  2,  1837,  aged  75,  and  his  wife  Mary,  Oct.  6,  1814.  aged  .53. 

Col.  Moses  N.  Childs,  Jan.  30,  1826,  aged  513.4  :  his  wife  Sarah.  Feb.  4,  1828,  aged  53  :  theirson 
Moses,  Mav  22,  1823,  aged  18  :  their  son  Simeon  N.,  Mar.  18,  1815,  aged  19  :  their  daughter  Lucy 
B  ,  Feb.  8^1820,  aged  1734. 

John  W.  Hubbard,  Sept.  19, 1825,  aged  32.  He  was  a  prominent  lawyer,  nephew  and  adopted  son 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Austin,  and  resided  upon  his  estate,  corner  of  Main  and  Austin  streets. 

Mary,  wife  of  De:i.  Henr\'  Parker,  (  and  daughter  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Grosveuor,  late  minister  at 
Harvard,)  May  8,  1802,  aged  25  Mrs  Grosvenor,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  re.sided  in  the 
house  ne.xt  south  of  that  of  Judge  Bangs,  on  Main  street.  Mrs.  Grosvenor's  daughter  Mary  was 
wife  of  Hon.  Edward  D.  Bangs  nnd  subsequently  of  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury. 

.lohn  Parker,  91  :  his  wife,  Welthea  Parker,  69  :  and  their  daughter  Charlotte,  4 

Capt.  Thaddeus  Chapin,  March  14,  1831,  aged  75:  his  wife  lAicy,  June  1,  1847,  aged  88:  his 
brother,  Capt.  Eli  Chapin,  March  7.  1830,  aged  76;  and  The  ]atter"s  wife  Margaret,  Jan.  10,  1831, 
aged  75.  They  were  sons  of  Benjamin  Chapin,  who  died  May  6,  1782,  aged  70,  and  resided  on  the 
east  side  of  Pakachoag  hill,  between  Worcester  and  Auburn. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Chapin,  (son  of  Capt.  Thaddeus,)  Jan.  15,  1835,  aged  54,  his  wife  Comfort,  Oct  14, 
1814,  aged  29,  and  his  wife  Hannah,  Dec.  21,1834,  aged  83.  Dr.  Benjamin  was  brother  of  Dea. 
Lewis  Chapin,  who  died  in  1874,  aged  82. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Dea.  Seth  Chapin  of  Mendon,  July  26, 1805,  aged  80. 

Elder  Luther  Goddard,  May  25,  1S42,  aged  80,  and  his  wife  Lucretia  in  1852,  aged  77,  parents  of 
Dea.  Daniel  Goddard. 


Capt  John  Goddard,  Jan   20,  1824,  iged  35- 
Capt.  John  Gleason,    April  14,  1823,  aged  49  ; 


'apt.  John  Gleason,  April  14.  1823,  aged  49;  his  wife  Polly,  April  29,  1829,  aged  51;  and  son 
Samuel  S.,  June  21 ,  1826,  aged  18 

Jonathan  Gleason,  June  1,  1827,  aged  82 ;  his  wife  Mary,  Aug.  1,  1821,  aged  73. 

Lois,  wife  of  Wm.  Tavlor,  Nov  1805,  seed  70. 

Molly,  wife  of  Timothy  Bragg,  April  23,  1830,  aged  69. 

Miriam,  wife  of  Samuel  Warden,  Aug.  5, 1797,  aged  61. 

Nancy,  wife  of  Capt.  Leonard  Clark,  June  24,  1818.  aged  32. 

John'Goodale,  April  13, 1827,  aged  82 :  and  his  wife  Lucy,  Feb.  11.  1814,  aged  74. 

Capt.  Wm.  Gates,  July  7,  1811,  aged  (>.  He  served  iu  the  revolutit'nary  war,  and  resided  on  the 
corner  of  Plantation  street  and  the  Bloomingdale  road. 

Samuel  Gates,  Dec.  19, 1831.  aged  77,  and  his  wife  Lucy  (C^hadwick,)  Sept.  22, 1819,  aged  56.  He 
was  grandfather  of  the  present  John  Gates,  lumber  merchant,  and  resided  on  the  corner  of  Planta- 
tion and  Belmont  streets. 

Nathaniel  Gates,  Dec.  10,  1824,  aged  54,  and  his  wife  Lucy,  June  16,  1855,  aged  85.  He  lived  in 
Tatnuck. 

Jonathan  Gate's,  Dec  4.  1814,  aged  66,  and  his  wife  Sarah,  Jan.  28,  1828,  aged  78. 

John  Gates,  Nov.  27,  1797,  aged  97,  and  his  wife  Violaty,  Feb.  10,  1801,  aged  79. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  209 

Joseph  Blair,  Feb.  8,  1804,  aged  77,  son  of  Robert  Blair,  Scotch  Presbyterian  of  1718. 

Lieut.  Isaac  Willard,  Dec.  26,  18('5,  aged  80  ;  and  his  Avife  Marcy,  July  26,  1S13,  aged  07. 

Phinehas  Ward,  Nov.  20,  1808,  aged  79. 

Tyler  Curtis,  (son  of  Capt.  John  Curtis,)  April  16,  1807,  aged  54;  his  wife  Lydia,Oct.  5,1841, 
aged  88  ;  and  their  children  as  follows  :  John,  (father  of  the  present  Tyler  Prentice  Curtis),  Aug.  31, 
1826,  aged  43;  Eliza  P.,  wife  of  Jonathan  Knight,  March  26,1815,  aged  24;  Tyler,  March  17, 
1842,  aged  40  ;  Nathaniel,  March  28,  1818,  aged  24  ;  and  Samuel,  May  17, 1811, aged  15.  (See  pages 
37  and  38.) 

Charles  Stearns,  Nov.  17,  1828,  aged  81 ;  he  built  and  first  kept  the  old  C.  M.  Deland  tavern 
at  New  Worcester  in  1812.     (See  page  39  ) 

Thomas  Stearns,  Mar.  26,  1811,  aged  39. 

Miudwell,  wife  of  Silas   Harrington,  Oct.  27,  1808,  aged  57. 

Capt.  Ebeuezer  Wiswell,  Jan.  10,  1822,  aged  67,  son  of  Ebenezer  Wiswell  buried  on  the  old 
Common. 

Capt.  Simeon  Duncan,  Feb.  22, 1836,  aged  80,  and  his  wife  Mary,  May  26,  1813,  aged  53. 

Willard  Moore,  Feb.  13, 1859,  aged  83 ;  his  wife  Mary,  Feb.  21,  1821,  aged  45. 

Daniel  Knight,  Aug.  31,  1826,  aged  35.     Son  of  Reuben  Knight  of  Leicester. 

Edward  K.  Knight,  Sept.  19, 1819,  aged  69.     Mi.ss  Elizabeth  Knight,  Jan.  12, 1816,  aged  71. 

Sarah,  wife  of  U rial  Johnson,  July  22,  1817,  aged  37. 

Maj.  John  White,  Feb.  2,  1797  aged  51.     Mrs.  Eliza  White,  Oct.  16,  1798. 

Tyler  WeUingtou,  July  26,  1821,  aged  42. 

Palmer  Stowell,  Oct.  18, 1820,  aged  24. 

Curtis  Fowle,  March  18, 1825,  aged  80.  He  came  from  England,  joined  the  American  army  in 
1775,  and  served  ftiithfuUy  during  the  war. 

David  Brown,  Oct.  11,1816,  aged  48;  wife  Lucy,  Feb.  20,1823,  aged  47;  daughter  Lucy,  May 
31,  1819,  aged  19. 

Samuel  Harrington,  March  27, 1838,  aged  84  ;  wife  Silence,  May  17,  1828,  aged  74. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dison  Dyer,  Aug.  13, 1828,  aged  67. 

John  Fisk,  Sept.  10,  1836,  aged  35. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Simon  S.  Gates,  Feb.  23,  1830,  aged  33. 

Rufus,  son  of  Andrew  and  Rebecca  Adams,  Oct.  9, 1828,  aged  27  ;  his  sister  Lucy,  Dec.  21,  1818, 
aged  27. 

Joseph  Kingsbury,  Feb.  15, 1815.  aged  68. 

Oliver  Kingsbury,  Nov.  12,  1809,  aged  27. 

Joseph  Daniels,. Feb.  18, 1826,  aged  68;  father  of  the  late  "Wm.  P.  Daniels.  Joseph  Daniels 
owned  a  very  large  amount  of.real  estate  around  Washington  Square,  which  he  sold  to  Samuel 
Hathaway,  including  all  that  now  occupied  by  the  railroad  corporations,  iron  works,  the  old 
Pine  Meadow  Cemetery,  &c. 

Daniel  Johnson,  Jr.,  May  17, 1809,  aged  33. 

Charles  Adams,  Oct.  3, 1813,  aged  70  ;  his  wife  Abigail,  Oct.  6,  1796,  aged  53. 

Benjamin  Tucker,  Sept.  13,  1806,  aged  73,  and  his  wife  Martha,  Nov.  3,  1820,  aged  90.     Their  son, 

Enos  Tucker,  June  19,  1822,  ag-ed  5G  :  and  his  wife  Mary,  July  10,  1851,  aged  82.  Enos  Tucker 
was  the  first  harness-maker  in  Worcester,  having  a  shop  on  Main  street,  nearly  opposite  Central 
street. 

Capt.  Sami^el  Brooks,  June  29, 1817,  aged  87,  and  his  wife  Hannah,  Dec.  6,  1819,  aged  96.  He 
was  brother  of  Capt.  Nathaniel   Brooks,  and  father  of  the  late  Dea.  Nathaniel  Brooks. 

Samuel  Woodburn,  March  11,  1803,  aged  80.  He  resided  previous  to  1782  in  the  old  Gov.  Han- 
cock (afterwards  Gov.  Lincoln)  mansion  on  Lincoln  street,  where  he  kept  a  public  house  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  attendants  upon  the  county  courts. 

Zilpa  Furrows,  July  8, 1830,  aged  30. 

Lucy,  wife  of  Amos  Robbins,  April  11, 1849,  aged  56. 

Ebenezer  Geer,  Jr.,  Aug.  31, 1818,  aged  28  ;  his  wife  Azubah,  March  4,  1826,  aged  40. 

Thankful,  wife  of  Joel  Putnam,  Oct.  30, 1822,  aged  32. 

Wm.  Barber  of  Boston,  nephew  of  Elder  Wm.  Bentlev,  Nov.  12,  1813,  aged  19. 

Daniel  Chadwick,  May  23,  1835,  aged  84  ;  his  wife  EHzabeth,  July  1,  1822,  aged  61.  Their  son 
Daniel,  Feb  26,  1825,  aged  37,  and  his  wife  Betsey,  Jan.  30  1818,  aged  24.  Joseph,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  Chadwick,  March  2, 1812,  aged  12.     They  lived  just  south  of  Northville. 

Wm.  Bingham,  April  7, 1827,  aged  27. 

Robert  Gray,  Oct.  6,  1799,  aged  64  ;  his  wife  Margaret,  Sept.  7,  1796,  aged  57. 

Reuben  Gray,  Mav  23,  1S14,  aged  70;  his  wife  Lydia,  (date  unknown);  their  son  Reuben, 
drowned  July  12, 1807,  aged  20  ;  their  son  Moses,  killed^  by  fall  of  a  tree,  March  26,  1803,  aged  18. 

Asahel  Bellows,  Aug.  9, 1835,  aged  54.  He  kept  the  old  stone  jail  and  tavern  on  Lincoln  Square 
after  Gen.  Heard. 

Adrian  Webb,  Feb.  5, 1830,  aged  62.  He  was  a  well  known  barber,  occupying  a  shop  on  Court 
Hill. 

Dolly,  wife  of  Thomas  V.  Kent,  Feb.  19, 1836,  aged  39. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  Sutton,  March  28, 1821,  aged  26. 

Rufus,  son  of  Andrew  and  Rebecca  Adams,  Oct.  9, 1828,  aged  27  ;  their  daughter  Lucy,  Dec.  21  , 
1818,  aged  27. 

Lemuel  Estey,  Oct.  6, 1817,  aged  21. 

Wm.  Augustus,  only  son  of  Wm.  Stowell,  drowned  May  19, 1827,  aged  6. 

Wm.  Alden,  son  of  Alden  and  Elizabeth  Blanehard,  Mar.  12,  1829,  1  year  ;  daughter  Elizabeth 
Aug.  12, 1834,  aged  9. 

Heman  Lincoln,  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Maria  C.  Farnsworth,  Sept.  6, 1825,  20  months. 
Noah  Harrington,  July  18,  1832,  aged  73  ;  his  wife  Lois,   Oct.  11,  1820,  aged  54  :  grandparents©  f 
Wm.  H.,  Chauncey  G  ,  and  Frank  W.  Harrington  of  Worcester. 
Charles  Smith,  Sept.  1, 1820,  aged  24. 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Elbridge  and  Hannah  Dix,  Nov.  19, 1825,  2  years  and  10  months. 

27 


210  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Silas  Rice,  May  31,  1833,  agod  83 ;  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Sept.  4,  1797,  aged  39  ;  their  son  Abraham, 
Aug.  1,  1795,  aged  6. 

Benjamin,  sou  of  Rev.  L.  I.  Iloadley  and  Mrs.  Lydia  Iloadley,  April  15,  1S28,  aged  5  days. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Elijah  Burbank,  Sept.  11,  1831,  aged  Go,  and  their  daughter  Mary,  March  12, 
1810,  aged  17.  He  carried  on  for  a  long  time  till  1834,  the  paper  mill  at  Quinsigauiond  Village, 
started  in  1794  by  Isaiah  Thomas,  where  the  iron  works  now  uie.  lie  died  at  Broikl^u,  N.  Y.,  iu 
1848. 

Sylvia,  wife  of  Peter  Rich,  Sept.  10, 1844,  aged  74. 

The  preceding  comprise  but  a  portion  of  the  luimcroiis  bu- 
rials in  the  Mechanic  street  Cemoteiy  between  1795  and  18G0, 
the  earliest  and  latest  dates  at  which  interments  appear  to  l;avc 
been  made  there,  as  a  large  number  of  the  bodies  have  been 
removed  by  their  friends,  and  buried  elsewhere,  either  at  the 
Rural  Cemetery,  which  was  first  opened  in  I808,  or  at  Hope 
Cemetery,  comprising  52  acres,  opened  in  1854.  It  is  estimat- 
ed that  of  the  450  persons  interred  in  the  Mechanic  street 
ground,  the  bodies  of  350  yet  remain.  The  condition  in  which 
tills  ground  has  been  for  several  years  past,  has  provoked  much 
indignant  comment  upon  the  policy  of  the  municipal  author- 
ities in  allowing  the  wholesale  desecration  wliich  has  been  en- 
acted here,  as  well  as  at  the  Pine  street  Cemetery,  tlie  fences 
of  both  having  been  broken  down  and  carried  off  for  fire-wood, 
and  many  of  the  monuments  mutilated  and  destroyed  by  vicious 
hands,  whom  a  secure  fencing  and  a  proper  guarding  of  the 
same  would  have  kept  away  from  making  these  depredations. 
Should  the  Foster  street  extension  from  Main  street  to  the 
Union  depot  at  Washington  Square  be  constructed,  as  now 
contemplated,  most  if  not  all  of  the  Mechanic  street  burial 
ground  will  have  to  be  taken  for  the  purpose,  tlius  necessitating 
the  removal  of  all  the  remains  now  left  there. 

Pine  Street  Burial  Ground. 

The  burial  ground  at  East  Worcester,  having  a  frontage  of 
five  hundred  feet  on  Pine  street,  which  originally  comprised 
eight  acres,  first  began  to  be  commonly  used  in  1828.  It  origin- 
ally belonged  to  the  estate  of  Jacob  Holmes,  afterwards  succes- 
sively of  Joseph  Daniels  and  Samuel  Hathaway,  who  more  than 
fifty  years  ago  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  real  estate  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington  Square,  including  the  site  of  the  Union 
depot.  By  successive  cuttings  off  from  time  to  time,  on  the 
south  side,  since  the  opening  of  the   Boston  and   Worcester, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  211 

aiul  Boston,  Barrc  and  Gardner  Railroads,  this  burial  ground 
has  now  l)ecn  reduced  to  00,000  feet,  or  a  little  over  two  acres, 
and  it  will  probably  all  be  soon  used  for  other  purposes,  the 
hirgor  portion  of  the  bodies  interred  there  having  already  been 
removed,  and  the  remainder  will  soon  be.  No  burials  have 
been  made  there  for  many  years.  One  of  the  first  interments 
in  this  cemetery  was  of  the  body  of  Col.  Reuben  Sikes,  who 
died  Aug.  19,  1821,  aged  G9.  He  was  proprietor  and  landlord 
of  the  old  Exchano^e  Hotel,  opposite  Court  Hill,  then  tlie  load- 
ing liotol  of  tlie  town,  from  1807  to  1824,  and  was  with  Capt. 
Levi  Pease  of  Shrewsbury,  the  most  extensive  stage  proprietor  in 
tlic  central  section  of  New  England.  His  remains  iiave  just 
been  removed  to  tlic  family  lot  in  Rural  Cemetery.  Another 
wliose  remains  have  recently  been  removed  from  this  ground,  is 
Isaac  Goodwin,  a  prominent  lawyer  and  distinguished  antiquari- 
an, who  died  Sept.  17,  1832,  aged  46.  He  was  father  of  Hon. 
John  A.  Goodwin  of  Lowell.  Among  others  interred  here, 
whose  remains  have  been  removed,  arc  the  following  : 

Capt.  John  Barnard,  died  Sept.  13  1830,  aged  87  ;  and  his  wife  Sarah,  Feb.  4,  18.31,  aged  84. 
They  were  grandparents  of  the  present  Lewis  Barnard,  and  resided  on  the  estate  on  Lincoln  street, 
previously  owned  and  occupied  by  Capt  Israel  Jennison.  This  Capt.  John  Barnard  was  son  of 
Isaac  Barnard  who  came  from  Sutton,  and  settled  first  at  New  Worcester. 

Capt  Peter  Slater,  died  October  13,  1831,  aged  72;  and  his  wife  Zilpa,  July  18,  1818,  aged  53. 
Capt.  Slater  was  one  of  the  celebrated  "Boston  Tea  Party,"  and  when  a  youth  of  14,  on  the 
night  of  Dec.  16,  1773,  aided  in  throwing  overboard  the  242  chests  of  tea  into  Boston  harbor,  as- 
sociated with  him  on  that  memorable  occasion,  being  Col.  Paul  Revere,  Gen.  John  Spurr  of  Charl- 
ton, (grandfather  of  Zephaniah,  Elijah  and  George  R.  Spurr  of  Worcester,)  Capt.  Benjamin  Rico 
of  Brookfield,  (great-grandfather  of  Hon.  Wm.  W.  Rice  of  Worcester,)  and  some  fifty  others,  many 
of  them  afterwards  distinguished  in  the  revolutionary  service,  whose  names  are  engraved  upon  a 
marlde  monuirent  erected  to  the  memoi-y  of  Capt.  Slater  in  Hope  Cemetery,  to  which  place  his  re- 
mains and  those  of  his  family  were  removed  several  years  ago,  at  the  dedication  of  which  monu- 
ment appropriate  services  were  held  July  4,  1870,  when  speeches  were  made  by  Hon.  Isaac  Davis, 
Hon.  Henry  Chapin  and  others.  Capt.  Slater  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  from  Boston  to 
Worcester  in  June,  1775,  after  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  of  which  he  was  an  eye  witness,  (being 
then  a  youth  of  16,)  and  served  three  years  in  Maj.  Wm.  Treadwell's  artillery  company,  after 
which  he  was  a  short  time  laborer  on  the  farm  of  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  on  Lincoln  street.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Chapin  who  lived  just  over  the  border  in  Auburn,  and  settled  on  the 
form  on  Pakachoag  Hill,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Wm.  Goss,  senior.  In  1806,  Capt. 
Slater  removed  to  Main  street,  and  established  a  rope  walk  in  the  rear  of  the  estate  (where  the 
Quinsigamond  Bank  now  \s)  which  he  purchased  of  Dea.  Nathan  Heard.  This  rope  walk  was  re- 
moved ten  years  ago,  and  brick  buildings  owned  by  Hon.  Isaac  Davis  now  occupv  the  site  of  his 
residence,  and  that  of  Maj.  Treadwell,  (afterwards  of  Francis  Blake,)  just  south  of  it  on  the  corner 
of  Central  street.  Capt.  Slater  was  at  one  time  a  commander  of  the  old  Worcester  Artillery.  He 
had  ten  son.?  and  four  daughters. 

The  burials  in  over  fifty  family  lots  yet  remain  to  be  removed, 
among  them  the  following  : 

Sanriel  r>i'aser.  a  well  known  and  leading  merchant  in  Worcester  nearly  100  years  as:o,  who  died 
Aug.  10,  18-35,  aged  80 ;  liis  wife  Elizab'ith,  June  (5,  1821,  age  I  65;  and  their  daug^hter  Betsey, 
June  18,  1871,  aged  3  years.  He  was  f:;  tier  of  Rev.  Dr.  John  P.raser  of  Salem.  Samuel  Eraser's 
residence  and  store  occupied  the  fite  of  the  prcfent  res  derre  rf  William  Dickinson,  who  purchas- 
ed the  Braser  estate  in  1848,  and  remodeled  the  old  dwellii  g,  \\hicl)  then  h;nl  ^tort^s  iu  the  first 
story  as  now.     Mr.    Braser "s   first   residence  and  store  were  burned  February  18,  1815,  in  connec- 


212  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

tion  with  the  residence  and  store  of  Enoch  and  Elisha  Flagg,  adjoining  on  the  south,  and  new 
structures  were  erected  on  their  site. 

Reuben  Gleason,  died  Nov.  24,  1833,  aged  55  ;  his  wife  Abigail,  Aug.  31, 1830.  aged  45. 

Susan  C,  wife  of  Joseph  Fisher,  and  daughter  of  \Vm.  and  Lucretia  McClellan,  died  March  11, 
1831,  aged  25. 

Charles  W..  son  of  Wm.  and  Lucy  Gates,  Aug.  26, 1833,  aged  4. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Smith,  Oct.  6, 1837,  aged  KG  years  and  7  months. 

Lucy,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Catherine  Child,  March  1,  1830,  aged  32. 

Alexander  G.  Vottier,  Oct.  17,  1844,  aged  70  He  was  a  well  known  Frenchman  of  exceedingly 
facetious  character,  and  kept  a  candy  and  refreshment  store  sixty  years  ago  in  a  little  wooden 
building  which  stood  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  School  streets,  and  afterwards  in  one  of  the 
stores  in  "  Goddard's  Row."  He  was  fond  of  relating  incidents  of  his  service  as  one  of  Napoleon's 
soldiers,  under  whom  he  served  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 

Archibald  Willard,  Oct.  9,  1848,  aged  50  ;  and  his  wife,  Dec.  11, 1844,  aged  37.  He  kept  a  hotel 
at  Tatnuck,  a  little  west  of  that  previously  kept  successively  by  Joseph  and  Lewis  Holb rook,  and 
Benjamin  Fl.igg. 

James  Withcrby,  Sept.  3, 1851,  aged  34. 

Harriet,  wife  of  Francis  R.  Gourlay,  Nov.  24,  1846,  aged  40. 

Other  Burial   Places. 

The  Roman  Catholics  had  their  first  burial  ground  about  two 
miles  out  on  the  road  to  Tatnuck,  which  tliey  purcliased 
in  1834.  Their  present  burial  ground  at  South  Worcester 
began  to  be  used  in  1848,  during  the  ministrations  of  Rev. 
Matthew  W.  Gibson,  one  of  their  earliest  pastors,  who  super- 
intended the  construction  of  St.  John's  Church.  The  French 
Catholics  have  a  burial  place  about  a  mile  and  a  half  out  on 
the  east  side  of  Lincoln  street,  comprising  about  22  acres, 
which  they  have  used  for  two  years. 

Besides  the  above,  there  have  been  private  and  family  burial 
lots  at  other  places,  including  one  .at  Quinsigamond  Tillage, 
belonging  to  the  Tatman  family,  descendants  of  Jabez  Tatman. 
The  old  dwelling  of  the  latter,  and  of  his  son,  John  Tatman, 
(grandfather  of  the  present  R.  James  Tatman,)  stood  one  hun- 
dred years  ago,  just  east  of  the  burial  place,  in  which  some 
forty  interments  have  been  made.  Another  private  burial 
place  was  near  Winter  Hill  on  land  of  the  late  Ezra  Goddard, 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Josiah  Goddard,  in  which 
several  members  of  that  family  were  buried,  l)ut  all  the  remains 
have  been  removed  to  Rural  Cemetery.  On  John  Brewer's 
estate  near  the  corner  of  June  and  Mill  streets,  near  Tatnuck, 
two  burials  of  that  family  have  been  made,  and  there  are  prob- 
ably other  instances  of  this  kind. 

At  Jamesville,  near  the  south-east  side  of  the  pond,  on 
land  belonging  to  Benjamin  James,  were  buried  two  persons, 
whose  remains  were  removed  to  the  west  cemetery  in  Auburn 
two  years  ago.     They  were  the  bodies  of  Amos  Putnam,  who 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  213 

died  Sept.  17,  1811,  aged  81,  and  of  his  wife  Sarali,  who  died 
Dec.  21,  1802,  aged  64.  He  was  probably  a  relative  of  Isaac 
Putnam,  (referred  to  on  page  99.) 

When  the  excavations  were  being  made  for  the  foundation 
for  Jonathan  Grout's  block,  on  Main  street,  opposite  Elm 
street,  June  8,  1870,  the  workmen  found  several  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  part  of  an  old  tombstone  with  the  in- 
scription :  "  Here  lies  the  body  of  Elizabeth  Willard,  wife  of 
Jonathan  Willard,  who  died  July  4,  1720,  a<T:ed  38  years." 
She  was  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Hapgood)  Whitney  of 
Framingham.  Her  husband  resided  at  what  is  now  South 
Worcester.  The  finding  of  this  old  relic  in  that  locality, 
coupled  with  the  fact  that  when  the  excavations  were  being 
made  for  the  building  of  the  Insurance  Block,  just  north  of 
this  spot,  a  few  years  previous,  several  fragments  of  tombstones 
were  found,  indicates  that  formerly,  between  the  closing  of  the 
first  burial  ground  on  the  corner  of  Summer  and  School  streets, 
and  the  opening  of  the  second  one  on  the  old  Common,  the 
ground  opposite  Elm  street  about  midway  between  the  two 
localities  may  have  been  used  for  a  burial  place.  The  date 
(1728)  would  seem  to  confirm  such  a  supposition.  At  that 
period,  the  ministerial  or  common  land  embraced  all  the  ter- 
ritory east  of  Main  street  and  north  of  Front  street,  as  far  as 
Exchange  street  and  Mill  Brook,  including  the  spot  in  question. 

Upon  the  farm  of  Dea.  John  H.  Brooks,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  city,  are  the  graves  of  four  persons  who  died  of  small  pox, 
two  of  them  on  the  north  side  of  Nelson  lane,  leading  west  from 
Holden  street,  and  two  on  the  south  side  of  that  lane,  half  a 
mile  from  any  street.  No  mark  designates  the  names  or  dates 
of  burial,  except  on  one  grave,  upon  the  head  stone  of  which 
are  the  words  :  "  In  memory  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Increase 
Blake,  who  died  of  small  pox,  Nov.  22,  1792,  aged  61.  Tlie 
sweet  remembrance  of  the  just,  shall  flourish  when  tliey  sleep 
in  dust."  By  the  side  of  this  is  another  grave  upon  which 
there  is  nothing  to  indicate  the  name.  Possibly  it  is  that  of 
her  husband,  who  kept  a  store  for  several  years  in  Wor- 
cester, the  name  of  Increase  Blake  being  upon  the  list  of  pro- 
perty owners  here  between  the  years  1778  and  1792. 


214  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Luke  Brown,  wlio  came  from  Sudbury,  and  kept  the  old  jail 
and  Hancock  Arms'  tavern  on  Lincoln  street  from  1746  up  to 
the  time  of  his  decease,  of  small  pox,  April  14,  1772,  whoFi  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  hotel  and  jail  by  his  son,  Luke  Brow  n,  Jr., 
Avas  buried  near  the  summit  of  the  Jo  Bill  road,  upon  what 
was  then  his  own  land,  afterwards  purchased  by  tlie  elder 
Stephen  Salisbury,  who  had  the  remains  removed  to  the  old 
Common. 

The  first  person  burled  in  the  old  Catholic  Cemetery  near 
Tatnuck,  was  John  Diviny,  who  was  killed  with  three  others, 
while  at  work  blasting  in  the  l>ig  ledge  on  the  Boston  and 
Albany  Railroad,  then  in  process  of  construction,  near  Pine 
^leadow,  his  body  being  lodged  iu  a  tree.  He  was  buried  near 
the  front  gate  of  the  cemeter}'.  He  came  over  from  Ireland  in 
1833  with  Johu  Fay,  now  Catholic  sexton  and  undertaker. 

The  first  person  buried  in  the  Catholic  (St.  John's)  Cem- 
etery at  South  Worcester,  now  comprising  some  forty  acres, 
was  Nicholas  Mooney,  in  June,  1848. 

The  first  person  buried  in  the  Rural  Cemetery,  now  compris- 
ing fifty  acres,  was  Harriet  Paine,  wife  of  Judge  Thomas  Kin- 
nicutt,  who  died  Sept.  29,  1838,  aged  30. 

The  cemetery  in  Auburn  Centre  began  to  be  used  about  the 
time  that  section  was  first  set  off  as  the  southern  precinct  of 
Worcester. 

The  burials  in  the  old  Auburn  or  "  Worcester  South  Pre- 
cinct" Cemetery,  of  those  ])rominent  in  Worcester  affairs  pre- 
ceding the  separation  of  that  town,  are  as  follows: 

Thomas  Drury,  Nov.  3, 1778,  aged  58,  and  his  •wife Elizabeth,  Aug.  17, 1807,  aged  77  :  their  son, 
Lieut.  Thomas  Drury.  July  6,  1836,  aged  91,  and  the  latt«r's  wife,  Experience  Drury,  Dec.  2,  1834, 
a"-ed  91.  Maj.  Thomas  Drury,  (sou  of  Lieut.  Thomas.)  died  April  *i(),  1846,  asced  69,  and  his  wife 
.>felntable,  Nov.  6,  1810,  aged  32.  Col.  Alvah  Drury ,( sou  of  the  latter,)  died  S'ept.  28,1839,  aged  43. 
The  above,  comprising  four  generations,  all  resided  in  the  old  Drury  mansion,  (long  kept  as  a  hotel) 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Elnathan  Davis.  The  family  for  over  100  years  owned  the  old 
Drury  mills,  (latterly  the  Dunn  mills)  recently  burned.  William  H.,  Thomas  A.,  and  Enoch  1>. 
Drury  of  Worcester  are  sons  of  Alvah  :  and  Mary  A.,  who  married  A Iviu  T.  Burgess  and  Wealthy 
II  ,  who  married  Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  were  his  daughters. 

David  Bancroft,  died  April  16,  1782.  aged  63:  his  first  wife  Eunice  Bancroft.  Oct.  1,1777,  aged 
,'38,  and  his  last  wife  Ruth,  Aug.  1,  1809,  aged  94.  His  son.  Timothy  Bancroft,  died  March  4,  1834, 
aifed  73,  and  the  latter's  wife.  May  10, 1844,  aged  84.  The  latter  were  parents  of  the  late  Harvey 
liTmcroft,  who  was  father  of  the  present  Enocii  L.  and  I.saac  A.  Bancroft.  Their  ancestor,  David 
Bancroft,  was  an  influential  man  in  town  affairs  during  the  revolution,  as  representative  to  the 
(Jeneral  Court,  member  of  important  committees,  &c.  His  residence  was  a  mile  or  more  from  the 
railruiid  depot  on  the  road  towards  Millbury. 

Dea.  Jonathan  Stone,  Dec.  21,1806,  aged  81;  and  his  wife  Martha,  March  2, 1811,  aged  71. 
Their  son,  Lieut.  Jonathan  Stone,  Nov  24,  1S09,  aged  59;  his  first  wife  Marv,  March  24,  1791, 
aged  .37,  and  his  last  wife  Sally,  Sept.  16, 1853  aged  39. 

Rev.  Isaac  Bailey,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Auburn  Church  (originally  Worccs^ter  South  Precinct, 
«iee  page  128,)  died" April  10,  1814,  aged  61  :  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Jan.  6,  1842,  aged  87,  with  two 
infant  cliildreu.     His  residence  fronted  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Common. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  215 

Wealthy,  ■wife  of  Rev.  Enoch  Pond,  P.  D.,  (second  minister,)  died  greatly  beloved  and  lamented, 
in  the  midst  of  her  days  of  iu«ofidne.ss,  in  the  joyful  hope  of  heaven,  Sept.  lo,  1824,  aged  30,  with 
four  infant  children.  Pr.  Tond  still  survives  in  Bangor,  Me.,  in  his  87th  year.  He  was  pastor  here 
till  1828.     His  residence  was  nftrth  east  of  the  Common. 

Thomas  Baird,  April  2t>,  1782,  aged  74,  and  his  wife  Elisabeth,  April  23, 1790,  aged  82. 

Elizabeth,  relict  of  Joiui  lioyden,  died  Jan.  tJ,  1812,  aged  8f>.  Samuel  Boyden,  son  of  the  latter, 
died  Sept.  18,  1847,  aged  83,  "and  his  wife  Sarah,  Nov.  28,1845.  The  latter,  who  resided  on 
I'akHchoag  hill,  a  few  rods  south-east  of  the  present  residence  of  Charles  F.  Curtis,  was  father  of  the 
present  Joseph,  Jubal  and  Lewis  Boyden  of  Worcester. 

Sarah,  relict  of  BiMijaniin  Wiser,  senior,  Dec.  14,  1794,  aged  76.  Benjamin  Wiser,  Jr.,  July  1, 
1794,  aged  41,  and  his  widow  Dolly,  May  4,  1829,  aged  80.  Dca.  Benjamin  Wiser,  June  15,  1858, 
aged  78.  Four  generations  of  Benjamiu  Wisers  resided  in  the  old  Wiser  dwelling  on  the  east  i?ide 
of  Packachoag  Hill,  now  (1877)  the  residence  of  J.  F    Beane. 

Dea.  David  Gleasou,  April  29, 1833,  aged  86,  aud  his  wife  Lydia,  Nov  27, 1838,  aged  93- 

Sextons  and  Undertakers. 

The  principal  sextons  and  undertakers  from  the  first  liavc 
been :  Capt.  Thomas  Stearns,  (sec  page  58  ;)  Capt.  Daniel 
Ward,  (see  page  21  ;)  Capt.  Moses  Rice,  (page  20 :)  Wm. 
Nichols  ;  and  Jolm  Waters,  who  resided  in  tlie  old  Waters 
honse  fronting  the  south-east  corner  of  the  old  Common. 
Those  who  officiated  wdiile  there  was  but  one  chnrch  or  parish 
in  the  town,  had  superadded  the  charge  of  "  taking  care  of 
the  meeting."  Major  Jedediah  Healey,  owner  and  occupant  of 
the  S.  M.  Burnside  estate  on  Main  street,  w^as  town  sexton  and 
undertaker  for  a  long  series  of  years  preceding  his  death,  Feb. 
7,  1821,  when  he  w^as  succeeded  by  Thomas  B.  Eaton,  and 
the  latter  by  Samuel  Harrington,  who  died  May  28, 1842,  aged 
58.  He  died  from  erysipelas  contracted  while  preparing  a  body 
for  burial.  His  wife  died  the  same  day  from  the  same  disease 
taken  in  caring  for  him,  and  there  was  but  one  funeral  service 
for  both,  and  they  were  buried  side  by  side  in  the  same  grave. 
He  w^as  succeeded  as  sexton  by  3Ir.  Eaton,  who  had  been  his 
predecessor,  who  served  tlie  town  in  this  capacity  for  a  brief 
period.  Wm.  G.  Maynard  and  John  Gates  succeeded  Mr. 
Eaton,  Mr.  Maynard  acting  till  1850,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Geo.  Sessions  and  Horace  Mirick,  the  latter  acting  till  1857, 
and  the  former  being  now  in  his  28th  year  of  service.  Waldo 
E.  Sessions  has  been  in  company  with  his  father  (George  Ses- 
sions) in  the  business  since  18G7.  George  G.  Hildreth  lias 
been  city  sexton  and  undertaker  since  1857. 

Thomas  Maginnis  was  the  first  Catholic  sexton  and  under- 
taker, from  1855  to  1869,  the  McConville  Bros.,  M.  A.  Power 
and  others,  succeeding  him.  John  Fay,  wdio  began  in  1872, 
and  Andrew  Athy,  are  the  present  ones. 


m^:^^:^::^o^(S^^^S:^^^^i^2:^^^.^^^^^ 


COURTS,  COURT  HOUSES,  COUI^TY  OFFICERS, 
JAILS,  HOUSES  OF  CORRECTION,  ETC. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

The    Courts  and  County  Officers. 

As  tlie  Courts  have  alw^ays  been  held  in  Worcester  since  the 
organization  of  the  county,  and  the  officers  have  been  mostly 
residents  in  Worcester,  an  account  of  the  constitution  of  the 
county  Courts  and  of  tlie  successive  officers  connected  there- 
with, properly  belongs  here. 

The  act  incorporating  the  county  of  Worcester  was  passed 
April  2,  1781,  before  which  time  eight  of  the  fifteen  towns  of 
which  this  county  was  originally  composed,  belonued  to  Mid- 
dlesex county,  and  five  (including  the  town  of  Worcester)  to 
Suffolk  county.  The  first  Court  of  General  Sessions  and  Infe- 
rior Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  new  county  was  held  at  the 
old  meeting-house  in  Worcester,  occupying  nearly  the  site  of 
the  present  one  upon  tlie  Common,  Aug.  10,  1731,  wlien  the 
Rev.  John  Prentice  of  Lancaster  preaclied  a  sermon  at  the 
opening  of  the  Court,  taking  his  text  from  King  Jehoshaphat's 
charge  to  the  Judges  of  Judah,  2d  Chron.  19 :  6  and  7  : 
"Take  heed  what  ye  do,  ye  judge  not  for  man,  but  for  the 
Lord,"  &c.  The  first  commissioned  officers  of  this  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  (all  its  judges  being  confined  to  residents  of  the 
county  until  the  year  1811,  when  the  system  of  County  Courts 
of  Common  Pleas  was  abolished,)  were  as  follows :  John  Chan- 
dler of  AVoodstock,*  chief  justice  ;  Joseph  Wilder  of  Lancaster, 
William  Ward  of  Southborough,  and  William  Jennison  of  Wor- 

*  The  town  of  Woodstock  was  included  within  the  county  of  Worcester 
until  1749,  when  it  was  set  off  to  Connecticut. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  217 

cester,  judges  ;  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  of  Worcester,  (son  of  the 
first  judge,)  clerk;  and  Daniel  Gookin  of  Worcester,  (son  of 
Gen.  Daniel  Gookin,  so  dlstinguisiied  in  the  earliest  acts  for 
the  settlement  of  the  town,)  sheriff. 

For  a  long  time  after  this  period,  Lancaster,  Mendon,  Brook- 
field  and  Sutton  were  larger  than  Worcester,  and  when  it  was 
proposed  to  make  Lancaster  the  shire  town,  the  inhabitants 
there  objected,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  demoralize  them. 

After  the  death  of  Chief  Justice  John  Chandler  in  1740, 
Joseph  Wilder  of  Lancaster  was  promoted  chief  justice,  and 
Joseph  Dwiglit  of  Brookfield  appointed  the  additional  judge. 
LTpon  the  death  of  Judge  Jennison  in  1741,  Samuel  Willard  of 
Lancaster  was  a})pointed  in  his  place.  In  1745,  Nahiim  Ward 
of  Shrewsbury  (father  of  Maj.  Gen.  Artemas  Ward,)  was 
commissioned  in  place  of  William  Ward  of  Southborough.  In 
1752,  Maj.  Jonas  Rice  of  Worcester  was  constituted  judge,  in 
place  of  Samuel  Willard  of  Lancaster,  deceased  ;  and  in  1750, 
Edward  Hartwell  of  Lunenburg,  in  place  of  Joseph  Dwight  of 
Brookfield.  In  May,  1754,  John  Chandler  of  Worcester,  who 
had  from  the  beginning  been  clerk  of  the  courts,  was  appoint- 
ed judge.  In  1755,  Thomas  Steel  of  Leicester  was  appointed 
judge  in  place  of  Jonas  Rice,  deceased.  In  May,  1757,  upon 
the  death  of  Judge  Wilder,  a  re-arrangement  of  the  judges  was 
made,  in  the  following  order  :  John  Chandler,  Edward  Hart- 
well,  Thomas  Steel,  and  Timothy  Ruggles,  the  latter  from 
Hardwick.  Upon  the  decease  of  Chief  Justice  Chandler  in 
1762,  the  court  was  constituted  as  follows:  Timothy  Ruggles 
of  Hardwick,  Thomas  Steel  of  Leicester,  Joseph  Wilder  of 
Lancaster,  and  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury.  These  con- 
stituted the  court  until  June  5,  1774,  when  the  controversy 
with  the  mother  country  put  a  stop  to  the  exercise  of  all 
judicial  powers  held  under  the  king  of  England,  and  the  whole 
province  remained  in  this  situation  until  Oct.  17,  1775,  when 
under  the  authority  of  the  executive  council  of  the  Provincial 
Legislature,  the  court  was  constituted  as  follows,  three  of  the 
four  members  of  the  previous  court  siding  with  the  mother 
country:  Maj.  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  chief  jus- 
tice ;  Jedediah  Foster  of  Brookfield,  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton, 
28 


218  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

and  Samuel  Baker  of  Berlin,  judges.     Sept.   19.  177(3,  Joseph 
Dorr  of  Ward  (now  Aul)urn,)  was  appointed  judge  in  place  of 
Jedediah  Foster,    promoted  judge    of  the    Supreme  Judicial 
Court.     In  1794,  Dwight  Foster  of  Brookfield,  (son  of  Jedediah 
and  grandfather  of  the  present  Hon.  Dwight  Foster  of  Boston,) 
was  appointed  judge,  in  place  of  Moses   Gill  promoted  Lieut.- 
Governor,  but  not  accepting  the  position,  Michael  Gill  was  ap- 
pointed judge.     Elijah  Brigham  of  Westborough  w\as  chosen  in 
1795,  in    place  of  Samuel   Baker,  deceased,  who   had   served 
twenty  years.     In  1799,  John   Sprague   of  Lancaster  was   ap- 
pointed chief  justice  in  place  of  Gen.  Artemas  Ward,  resigned  ; 
in  1801,  Dwight  Foster  of  Brookfield  v/as  chosen  chief  justice 
in  place  of  Sprague,  and  Benjamin  Heywood  of  Worcester, 
judge,  in   place   of  Dorr,  the  latter  having  served    as  judge 
twenty-five  years,  and  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  as   chief  justice 
twenty-four  years.     No  other  change  was  made  till  1811,  when 
the  system  of  county  courts  for  the  Common  Fleas  was  abolish- 
ed, and  the  "  Circuit  Court   of  Common   Pleas"    established, 
the    State  being  divided   into    three    circuits,  of  which    Suf- 
folk,* Essex    and  Middlesex  counties   constituted  the  Middle 
Circuit  ;    W^orcester,   Hampshire,    Hampden    and    Berkshire 
counties  the  Western  Circuit  ;  and  Norfolk,  Plymouth,  Bj-istol 
and    Barnstable    counties    the    Southern   Circuit;  with    three 
judges  for  each  circuit.     The  first  judges  for  the  Western   Cir- 
cuit, including  Worcester  county,  were  :  Ezekiel  Bacon  of  Stock- 
bridge,  chief  justice,  and  Edward  Bangs  of  Worcester  and  Jon- 
athan   Leavitt  of  Greenfield,  associate  justices  ;  John  Hooker 
of  Sprhigfield  taking   the  place  of  Bacon  as  chief  justice   in 
1812,  and  Solomon  Strong  of  Leominster   taking  the  place  of 
Judge  Bangs  at  the  decease  of  the  latter,  June  28, 1818,  aged  62. 
In  1820,  another  change  was  made,  abolishing  the  circuit 
courts,  and  requiring  four  judges  to  be  selected  from  the  State 
at  large.     Under   this    new   arrangement,  Ai'temas  Ward   of 
Newton,  who  had  previously  been  member  of  Congress,  execu- 
tive  councillor,  &c.,    (son    of  J^klaj.    Gen.    Artemas   Ward   of 
Shrewsbury,)    served  as  chief  justice   for  nineteen  years   till 

*  In  1813,  another  Court  called  the  "  Boston  Court  of  Common  Pleas,"  was 
established  separate  from  the  Middle  Circuit. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  219 

1839,  Ills  associates  being  Solomon  Stroni^  of  Leominster,  John 
Mason  Williams  of  Taunton,  and  Samuel  Howe  of  Northampton. 
David.  Cummins  of  Salem  taking  the  place  of  Judge  Howe  in 
1828.  The  number  of  judges  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court  for 
tlie  whole  State  was  subsequently  increased  to  seven,  those  from 
Worcester  being:  Charles  Allen  from  1842  to  1844;  Pliny 
Merrick  from  1843  to  1848  ;  Emory  Washburn  from  1844  to 
1847;  and  Pliny  Merrick  again  from  1850  to  1853.  The 
chief  justices  succeeding  Judge  Ward,  were  :  John  Mason  Wil- 
liamsVrom  1839  to  1844;  Daniel  Wells  of  Greenfield,  from 
1844  to  1854:  and  Edward  Mellen  of  Wayland,  afterwards  of 
Worcester,  from  1854  until  the  abolition  of  tlie  Court  in  1859 
when  tlic  present  Superior  Court  was  established  in  its  place. 
Of  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  now  eleven  in  number, 
those  from  Worcester  have  been  :  Charles  Allen,  (chief  justice,) 
from  1859  to  1867 ;  Charles  Devens  from  1867  to  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  Supreme  Bench  in  1875  ;  Francis  H.  Dewey  from 
1869,  and  P.  Emory  Aldrich  from  1873,  the  two  latter  still  of- 
ficiating as  judges.  Scth  Ames  succeeded  Judge  Allen  as  cliief 
justice,  and  Lincoln  F.  Brigham  of  Boston  has  been  chief  jus- 
tice of  this  court  since  1869, 

The  Court  of  General  Sessions. 
The  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  which  original- 
ly had  jurisdiction  of  criminal  cases  and  all  matters  afterwards 
entrusted  to  the  Bo'ard  of  County  Commissioners,  consisted  of 
all  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  county,  including  the  four 
judges  of  the  Common  Pleas,  whose  sessions  were  on  the  same 
days,  in  the  months  of  February,  May,  August  and  November, 
and  who  took  the  lead  in  the  general  business.  The  Court  of 
General  Sessions  remained  the  same  in  its  constitution  and 
powers,  from  the  first  organization  of  the  county  till  1803, 
when  the  criminal  jurisdiction  was  transferred  to  the  Common 
Pleas.  In  1807,  the  number  of  Sessions  magistrates  was  limit- 
ed to  six,  when  the  name  "  General"  was  omitted,  and  it  was 
called  simply  ''  Court  of  Sessions,"  Pliny  Merrick  of  Brookfield 
acting  as  chief  justice  for  a  couple  of  years,  with  Moses  White 
of  Rutland,  John  Whiting  of  Lancaster,  Jonatlian  Davis  of  Ox- 


220  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

ford,  Joliii  Spurr  of  Charlton,  and  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  Stc- 
plien  Salisbury,  Dr.  Oliver  Fisko,  Jeremiah  Robinson  and  John 
W.  Lincoln  of  Worcester,  associate  justices  with  him  at  differ- 
ent sessions.  Li  1809,  this  Court  was  abolished,  and  all  its  re- 
maining powers  transferred  to  the  Common  Pleas.  On  account 
of  the  growing  dissatisfaction  at  this  act,  the  Sessions  Court 
was  again  revived  in  1811  with  four  justices,  consisting  of 
Jonathan  Davis  of  Oxford,  Timothy  Whiting  of  Lancaster, 
Joseph  Adams  of  L^xbridge  and  Edmund  Cusliing  of  Lunen- 
burg. In  1818,  the  whole  jurisdiction  was  again  transferred  to 
the  Common  Pleas  with  two  additional  justices,  termed  "  Ses- 
sions' Justices  of  tlic  Court  of  Common  Pleas,"  whose  power 
was  limited  to  Sessions  matters.  The  "  Sessions  Justices" 
thus  acting  till  1819,  were  Benjamin  Kimball  of  Harvard,  and 
Oliver  Crosby  of  Brookfield.  In  1819,  the  separate  "  Court  of 
Sessions"  was  again  revived  with  tliree  justices,  of  whom  Seth 
Hastings  of  Mendon  was  cluef  justice,  with  Benjamin  Kimball 
of  Harvard  and  iVaron  Tufts  of  Dudley  as  associate  justices. 
Tliese  remained  in  office  until  1828,  when  this  court  was  abol- 
ished, and  a  "  Board  of  County  Commissioners"  established 
in  its  place,  comprising  four  persons,  the  following  persons  be- 
ing appointed  to  constitute  the  board  :  Jared  Weed  of  Peters- 
ham, Aaron  Tafts  of  Dudley,  Edmund  Cusliing  of  Lunenburg, 
and  William  Eaton  of  Worcester.  James  Di-aper  of  Spencer 
was  appointed  in  place  of  Edmund  Cushing  in  1832,  and  the 
board  as  thus  constituted,  continued  till  1836,  when  the  law 
was  again  changed,  making  the  board  consist  of  three  commis- 
sioners and  two  special  commissioners,  the  latter  to  be  called 
upon  in  case  of  necessity.  Under  this  new  arrangement,  Col. 
John  W.  Lincoln  of  Worcester,  Ebenezer  D.  Ammidown  of 
Southbridge,  and  Gen.  Wm.  Crawford  of  Oakham  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners.  Gen.  Crawford  taking  the  place  of  Col. 
Lincoln  as  chairman  of  the  board  in  1842,  with  Davenport  of 
Mendon  and  Charles  Thurber  of  Worcester  as  his  associate 
commissioners  ;  Jerome  Gardner  of  Harvard  and  Joseph  Bruce 
of  Grafton  taking  the  place  of  Messrs.  Davenport  and  Thurber 
iu  1844.  The  board  so  continued  until  1850,  w^ien  the  com- 
missioner's were  Otis  Adams  of  Grafton,  Bonum  Nye  of  Xorth 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  221 

Brookfield,  tiiid  Asapli  Wood  of  Gardner  ;  Mr.  Xyc  taking-  tlic 
position  of  chairman  in  1855,  with  Zadok  A.  Taft  of  Uxbridgc 
as  the  new  nienil)or  in  place  of  Otis  Adams.  Mr.  Nye  retiring 
in  1857,  Asa})]i  Wood  l)ecame  cliairman,  and  James  Allen  of 
Oakliam  the  new  member.  A^eloi'ons  Taft  took  the  place  of 
Zadok  A.  Taft  in  1858,  and  Gcji.  Amory  flolman  of  Bolton  the 
place  of  James  Allen  in  1859.  hi  1802,  Velorons  Taft  became 
chairman,  J.  Warren  Bigelow  of  Rutland  then  taking  the  place, 
of  Asaph  AVood.  Li  18»]0,  Win.  O.  Brown  of  Fitchburg  took 
the  place  of  Gen.  llolman.  The  board  as  thus  constituted, 
continued  till  January,  1876,  when  Henry  G.  Taft  of  Uxbridge 
took  the  place  of  Velorons  Taft,  (who  had  served  eighteen 
years)  ;  and  in  January,  1877,  Henry  E.  Rice  of  Barre  took 
the  place  of  Mr.  Bigelow,  who  had  served  fifteen  years,  Wm.  0. 
Brown  being  the  ])resent  chairman  of  the  board. 

The  Supreme  Court. 
From  the  first  organization  ot  the  county,  there  has  always 
been  a  Court  al)ove  all  those  just  dcscril)ed,  having  a  general 
supervision  of  all  their  proceedings,  called  before  the  revolution 
the  "  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,"  and  since  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution  of  1780,  known  as  the  "•  Supreme  Judicial 
Court"  of  the  Commonwealth.  This  court  held  its  first  session 
in  this  county,  in  the  old  meeting-house  in  AVorcester,  Sept.  22, 
1781,  Benjamin  Lynde  being  then  chief  justice,  and  Addington 
Davenport,  Paul  Dudley,  Edmund  Quincy  and  John  dishing, 
associate  justices,  who  were  all.  present  with  fifteen  grand 
jurors,  of  whom  Maj.  Jonas  Rice  of  Worcester  was  foreman  ; 
John  Hubbard  of  Worcester  being  foreman  of  the  petit  jury. 
This  court  afiirmed  four  judgments  of  the  Common  Pleas'  Court 
on  complaint,  tried  one  indictment,  and  on  the  23d  adjourned 
without  day,  after  a  session  of  days. 

The  chief  justices  of  this  court,  since  the  death  of  Lynde  in 
1745,^ have  been:  Paul  Dudley  to  1751;  Stephen  Sewall  to 
1760  ;  Thomas  Hutchinson  to  1769;  Benjamin  Lynde  to  1771 ; 
Peter  Oliver  to  1775  ;  Wm.  Cushing  to  1780  ;  N.  P.  Sargent 
to  1791  ;  Francis  Dana  to  1806  ;  Theophilus  Parsons  to  1813  ; 
Samuel  Sewall  to  1814;  Isaac   Parker  to  1830  ;  Lemuel  Shaw 


222  Reinimscences   of  Worcester. 

to  I860:  George  Tyler  Big-elow  to  1868;  R.  A.   Chapman   to 
1874  ;  Horace  Gray  to  tlie  present  time. 

The  judges  of  this  court  from  Worcester  county  have  been: 
Jedediah  Foster  of  Brookfield  from  1776  to  1779  ;  Levi  Lincoln, 
in  1824,  afterwards  governor  ;  Benjamin  F.  Thomas  from  1853 
to  1859  ;  Pliny  Merrick  from  1853  to  1864  :  Dwiglit  Foster 
from  1866  to  1869  ;  Charles  Devens  from  1873  to  Marcli,  1877, 
when  he  was  appointed  Attorney  General  of  the  L^nitcd  States. 

Central  District  Court  of  Worcester  County. 

Wm.  N.  Green,  who  had  previously  acted  as  police  justice 
for  many  years,  was  judge  of  the  Worcester  Police  Court  from 
its  organization  in  1848,  to  its  abolition  in  1868,  a  period  of 
twenty  years.  Hartley  Williams  was  appointed,  judge  of  the 
^runicipal  Court,  which  took  the  place  of  the  Police  Court, 
July  1,  1868,  and  of  the  Central  District  Court  of  tlie  county, 
which  succeeded  it  in  1872,  the  present  court  comprising  w^ith- 
hi  its  jurisdiction  the  city  of  Worcester  and  the  surrounding 
towns  of  Millbury,  Sutton,  Auburn,  Leicester,  Paxton,  West 
Boylston,  Holden  and  Shrewsbury.  The  first  clerk  of  this  suc- 
cession of  courts,  who  officiated  from  1848  till  1853,  w^as  Cal- 
vin E.  Pratt,  afterwards  a  general  of  the  army  in  the  war  of 
the  rebellion,  and  for  ten  years  past  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  of  New  York.  His  successors  have  been  : 
Maj.  Samuel  Y.  Stone,  Provost  Marshal  of  this  Congressional 
district  during  the  war,  for  many  years  Secretary  of  the  School 
Committee  ;  John  B.  Dexter,  Jr.,  from  1855  to  1858  ;  Clark 
Jillson,  w^io  served  thirteen  years  until  July,  1871,  when  he 
was  appointed  judge  of  the  First  District  Court  of  Southern 
Worcester  county,  and  has  since  served  three  years  as  mayor 
of  the  city  of  Worcester.  The  present  clerk,  appointed  Aug. 
14,  1871,  is  Theodore  S.  Johnson,  formerly  judge  of  the  Sec- 
ond District  Court  of  Southern  AYorcester. 

Court   Houses. 
At  the  August  Session  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  in 
1732,  steps  were  first  taken  for  the  building  of  a  Court  House, 
which  was  erected  the  following  year  on  land  given  by  Judge 


BRICK  COURT  HOUSE,  ISOi 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  223 

Will.  Jeiiiiison  for  the  purpose,  the  sessions  of  the  Courts  being 
in  the  meanwhile  held  in  tlie  old  meeting-house,  until  the  Court 
House  was  completed.  This  building,  located  near  the  site 
of  the  present  brick  Court  House  ;  was  of  w^ood,  36  feet  by  2G,  ^ 
with  13  feet  posts.  It  was  first  opened,  at  the  session  of  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions,  beginning  Fah.  8,  1734,  when  a  dedi- 
catory address  was  delivered  by  Chief  Justice  John  Chand- 
ler. Less  than  twenty  years  afterwards  this  edifice  was  sup- 
plemented by  one  of  larger  proportions,  erected  a  few  feet  north- 
vv^est  of  it,  measures  for  which  were  first  taken  March  16, 
1751.  This  structure,  also  of  wood,  36  by  40  feet  in  size,  af- 
ter being  occupied  nearly  fifty  years  as  a  temple  of  jnstice,  was 
sold  and  converted  into  a  dwelling,  being  removed  on  wheels 
about  tlie  year  1802  to  its  present  location  at  tlie  junction  of 
Green,  Park  and  Franklin  streets,  having  been  occupied  for 
over  half  a  century  as  a  dwelling  by  tlie  family  of  the  late  Geo. 
A.  Trumbull,  who  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  that 
vicinity. 

The  Old  Brick  Court  House. 
The  work  on  the  third  Court  House,  built  of  brick,  (being 
the  present  nortli  Court  House,  remodeled  in  1857,)  was  begun 
in  1801,  being  located  a  few  feet  north-west  of  tlie  former  one, 
the  corner  stone  being  laid  Oct.  1,  1801,  by  Isaiah  Thomas, 
who  with  Slierilf  Wni.  Caldwell  and  Hon.  Salem  Towne  of 
Charlton,  State  Senator,  comprised  the  buikling  committee  of 
the  structure,  which  cost  ^20,000.  Its  size,  48  1-2  foot  front 
by  50  1-2  deep,  and  two  full  stories  in  height,  well  arranged  into 
rooms  for  the  courts  and  all  the  various  offices,  (surmounted 
by  the  scales  of  justice  still  suspended  on  its  dome,)  made  it  of 
ample  accommodations  for  seventy-five  and  fifty  years  ago.  It 
was  first  opened  Sept.  27,  1803,  when  the  presiding  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  made  appropriate  re- 
lerence  in  his  dedicatory  remarks,  to  the  magnificence  of  the 
structure,  considering  "  the  grandeur  of  the  building  a  striking 
proof  of  the  prosperity  of  the  inhabitants."  But  this  building, 
even,  became  insufficient,  in  the  progress  of  the  town's  growth, 
within  forty  years  from  that  time,  for  all  the  purposes  for  which 
it  was  built,  and  another  and  far  more   costly   structure    of 


224  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

granite  Avas  erected  in  1845.  But  such  was  tlic  growtli  of 
the  county  business  during  the  succeeding  twelve  years,  that  in 
1857  an  addition  liad  to  be  made  to  the  old  brick  Court  House, 
which  was  during  that  year  remodeled,  moved  back  about  for- 
ty feet  to  its  present  positiDu  on  a  line  witli  the  new  stone 
structure,  and  IG  feet  added  to  the  front,  making  the  brick 
Court  House,  now  have  a  depth  of  (JO  1-2  feet  by  48  1-2  front. 
The  former  entrance  by  a  porch  on  the  south  side  was  then 
closed.  The  roof  w^as  also  raised  foui*  feet,  and  the  outside  cov- 
ered w^th  a  coating  of  mastic.  The  dome  on  the  top  surmount- 
ed by  the  blind  goddess  holding  the  scales  of  justice,  still  re- 
mains, as  also  the  small  tower  in  the  rear  iu  wdiich  used  to  be 
a  bell  formerly  rung  at  the  opening  of  the  daily  sessions  of  the 
court. 

The  Stone  Court  House. 
The  first  steps  taken  to^vard  the  erection  of  the  present  stone 
Court  House,  wei'c  at  the  February  session  of  the  court  of- 
countv  commissioners,  in  1842,  when  it  was  voted  to  build, 
and  at  the  June  session,  1843,  the  full  board,  consisting  of 
Wm.  Crawford  of  Oakham,  David  Davenport  of  Mendon,  and 
Charles  Thurber  of  Worcester,  w^ith  Stephen  Davis  of  Oxford 
and  Jerome  Gardner  of  Harvard,  special  coniniissioners,  voted 
unanimously  to  accept  of  the  plans,  prepared  after  the  Corinth- 
ian order  of  architecture,  by  Ammi  B.  Young,  architect,  of 
Boston,  July  27,  1843,  a  contract  was  signed  l)y  the  commis- 
sioners witli  Horatio  N.  Tower,  carpenter  and  builder,  and 
David  Woodward,  stone  cutter,  of  Worcester,  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  building  according  to  those  plans,  the  contract  be- 
ing r^G5,600,  although  the  whole  cost  of  the  structure  in  its  en- 
tire completion  amounted  to  about  8100,000.  Its  location  is 
on  the  site  previously  occupied  by  the  spacious  mansion  of 
Isaiah  Thomas,  removed  to  the  rear,  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Walter  H.  Davis.  Work  upon  tlie  building  was  immediate- 
ly begun,  and  it  was  completed  during  the  summer  of  1845, 
being  first  occupied  at  the  fall  session  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court,  when  a  dedicatory  address  was  delivered  at  the  opening 
of  the  court,  Sept.  30,  1845,  by  Chief  Justice  Lemuel  Shaw. 
This  was  considered  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  costly  court 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  225 

houses  in  the  State,  its  material  being  Quincy  granite,  and  the 
style  after  that  of  the  Custom  House  in  Boston,  then  just  erect- 
ed, being  a  variation  from  that  of  the  Grecian  "  Tower  of  the 
Winds"  at  Athens. 

A  further  description  is  given  in  the  language  of  the  architect. 

•'  Size  of  the  building,  56  2-3  feet  wide  and  108  feet  deep  from  the  front 
of  the  upper  step  to  the  base  at  the  rear  end.  The  base  is  3  1-2  feet  high, 
the  cohuuns  and  body  30  feet  high,  and  the  entabhiture  7  1-6  feet  high, 
making  the  whole  height  from  the  ground  to  the  eaves  40  2-3  feet,  and  to  the 
apex  of  the  pediment  48  2-3  feet.  The  pediment  is  8  feet  high.  The  front 
and  two  sides  of  the  building,  the  portico,  steps,  and  three  feet  return  at 
the  rear  end  are  of  hammered  stone,  also  the  door  and  window  caps,  sills 
and  door  posts,  and  steps  of  the  rearend,  (the  remainder  of  the  rear  end 
being  rough  stone- work  laid  in  courses  as  ashlar  work.)  The  six  columns 
having  shafts  in  one  piece,  3  1-2  feet  in  diameter  above  the  scope  of  the 
base,  2  feet  11  inches  in  diameter  below  the  scope  of  the  neck,  and  25  feet 
high.  Their  capitals  3  3-4  feet  high,  and  5  feet  5  inches  square  at  the  ab- 
acus, also  each  in  one  piece.  The  bases  1  1-4  feet  high,  4  1-3  feet  in  diam- 
eter, in  one  piece.  The  columns  have  twenty  elliptical  plates  with  twenty 
fillets.  The  entablature  extends  on  three  sides  of  the  building  with  proper 
returns  at  the  rear  end.  Full  pediments  in  front,  with  crotera  at  the  eaves, 
and  ridge,  and  raking  cornice  at  the  rear  end.  The  base  of  the  building, 
piers  on  the  sides,  and  anta3  of  the  portico,  of  ashlar  work  in  courses  gen- 
erally three  feet  in  height." 

The  six  huge  granite  pillars  in  front,  twenty-five  feet  long  and 
three  feet  in  diameter,  each  weighing  nineteen  tons,  were  trans- 
ported by  rail  from  the  quarry  at  Quincy  to  the  freight  station 
at  Washington  Square,  whence  an  ox  and  horse  team  conveyed 
them,  one  at  a  time,  through  Summer  street  to  tiieir  destination 
on  Court  Hill,  the  wooden  bridge  then  spanning  Mill  Brook  on 
Front  street,  not  being  considered  eafe  for  to  heavy  a  load,  and 
the  bridge  at  Lincoln  Square  being  a  stone  arch.  Arrived  at 
tlie  foot  of  Court  Hill,  ascension  was  too  steep  from  the  north- 
ern declivity,  and  when  the  foot  of  the  southern  declivity  was 
reached,  the  street  was  not  wide  enough  for  them  to  turn 
round  so  as  to  go  up,  and  the  teams  had  to  proceed  up  Main 
street  as  far  as  the  City  Hall  in  order  to  find  room  enough  to 
turn  round,  which  done  the  teams  went  north  again  and  de- 
posited their  heavy  burden  without  further  difficulty. 

County  Jails. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Court  of  General   Sessions,  Sept.  2, 
1731,  a  prison  was  ordered  to  be  built  for  the  confinement   of 
29 


226  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

malefactors,  and  previous  to  its  erection,  iji  17BB,  arrangements 
were  made  with  Judge  Wm.  Jennison  for  the  use  of  a  part  of 
his  dwelling  (see  page  57)  as  a  temporary  jail  ;  a  suitable 
"  cage"  for  the  purpose  being  built  in  the  rear  part,  with  the 
liberties  of  the  yard  extending  twenty  feet  on  the  south  side 
and  east  end.  At  the  February  Session  of  the  Court,  in  1732, 
it  was  ordered,  that  "  in  lieu  of  the  prison  before  a})pointed, 
the  cage,  so  called,  already  built,  be  removed  to  the  chamber 
of  the  house  of  Dea.  Daniel  Heywood,  innholder,  (see  page  30) 
and  be  the  gaol  until  the  chamber  be  suitably  finished  for  a 
jail,  and  then  the  chamber  be  the  gaol  for  the  county,  and  the 
cage  remain  as  one  of  the  apartments."  Here  the  prisoners 
were  confined  until  they  were  put  in  the  building  erected  in 
1733,  in  the  west  side  of  Lincoln  street,  several  hundred  feet 
north  from  Lincoln  Square.  This  first  jail  building  was  41  feet 
long  by  18  wide,  with  8  feet  studs  ;  the  prison  part  was  18  feet 
square  made  of  white  oak  timber  set  with  studs,  four  inches 
thick  and  five  inches  broad,  and  floored,  roofed  and  ceiled  with 
two  inch  planks  spiked  together.  A  stone  dungeon  was  under- 
neath. The  north  end  of  the  structure,  finished  as  a  dwelling, 
afterwards  became  part  of  the  old  *'  Hancock  Arms"  and  Brown 
and  Butman  tavern,  (alluded  to  on  page  57)  which  was  burned 
Dec.  23,  1824.  In  1753,  a  new  jail  was  built  a  few  rods  south 
of  the  former  one,  38  feet  long  by  28  wide,  with  7  feet  joists, 
the  south  end  being  studded  with  joist  six  inches  square,  set 
five  inches  apart,  and  filled  w^ith  stone  and  mortar.  The  top, 
sides  and  floor  are  described  as  covered  inside  and  out  with 
plank  fastened  with  a  profusion  of  iron  spikes,  and  the  doors, 
windows  and  partitions  protected  with  heavy  iron  gratings. 

The  progress  of  time  demanded  increased  accommodations 
and  more  effectual  protection  and  security  against  the  escape 
of  prisoners,  and  at  the  December  session  of  the  Court  in  1784, 
provision  was  made  for  the  erection  of  what  was  then  consider- 
.  ed  a  massive  granite  structure,  64  by  32  feet,  three  stories  in 
height,  on  the  south  side  of  Lincoln  Square,  the  appropriation 
of  <£500  being  granted  therefor.  This  was  completed  Sept.  4, 
1788,  and  considered  a  great  affair.  The  lower  story  was  di- 
vided into  four  arches  crosswise,  forming  four  rooms  for  the 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  227 

safe  custody  of  persons  convicted  of  or  committed  for  gross 
crimes.  The  second  story  was  divided  in  the  same  manner 
into  four  rooms,  but  not  arched  with  stone  ;  these  were  for  the 
keeping  of  debtors  who  had  not  the  ''  liberty  of  the  yard,"  and 
lor  persons  committed  for  small  offences.  The  upper  story  had 
an  entry  or  walk  from  end  to  end,  and  was  divided  into  eight 
convenient  rooms  for  the  use  of  prisoners  for  debt,  who  had  tlie 
liberty  of  the  jail  yard.  This  yard  extended  so  far  as  to  in- 
clude the  jailor's  house,  on  the  east  side,  and  the  meeting-house 
of  the  second  Parish  (First  Unitarian  Church. )  The  liouse 
built  for  the  keeper  of  the  jail  was  the  property  of  the  county, 
and  described  as  a  ''  handsome,  well  finished  building." 

The  estimation  in  which  this  structure,  built  of  stone  from 
millstone  hill,  was  considered  at  that  time,  is  seen  in  the  fol- 
lowing from  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  written  by  Isaiah  Thomas, 
at  the  time  of  its  first  occupation  : 

'•  This  is  judged  to  be  at  least  the  second  stone  building  of  consequence  in 
the  Camnioawealth  ;  none  being  thought  saperior  to  it,  except  the  stone 
chapel  in  Boston  ;  that  is  built  of  hewn  stone  ;  the  stones  of  this  are  mostly 
as  they  were  taken  from  the  quarry.  The  master  workman,  John  Parks  of 
Groton,  has  acquired  great  credit  for  the  ingenuity  and  fidelity  with  which 
he  has  executed  the  work.  A  great  saving  must  be  experienced  from  the 
new  building,  as  without  some  convulsion  of  nature,  it  is  not  probable  that 
it  will  need  any  repairs,  excepting  the  roof,  for  two  or  three  centuries.  The 
capaciousness  of  the  building  will  make  it  answer  for  a  work-house,  and 
save  the  county  the  expense  of  erecting  one.'' 

But  the  progress  of  crime  and  improvements  of  prison  dis- 
cipline soon  afterwards  outgrew  even  these  accommodations. 
In  1819,  a  House  of  Correction,  of  brick,  53  by  27  feet,  includ- 
ing the  appointments  for  a  work-honse,  was  erected  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Jail  and  House  of  Correction  on  Summer  street, 
being  the  nucleus  of  the  present  commodious  and  elegant  brick 
structure  extended  to  its  present  large  dimensions  by  succes- 
sive additions  and  remodelings  since.  In  1832,  the  whole  in- 
terior of  the  first  structure  was  rebuilt,  after  the  plan  of  the 
State  Prison  at  Charlestown,  and  forty  cells  put  in,  7  by  3  1-2 
feet  in  size,  with  three  other  rooms  for  closer  confinement  in 
the  basement.  In  April,  1835,  a  part  of  this  building  was  ap- 
propriated for  the  county  jail,  and  the  two  upper  stories  of 
cells,  with  the  rooms  above  and  below   the  kitchen,  were  oc- 


228  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

cupied  for  the  jail,  and  the  prisoners  transferred  thereto  from  the 
old  stone  jail  on  Lincoln  Square,  which  was  then  torn  down. 

The  last  and  most  extensive  remodeling  made  in  the  present 
Jail  and  House  of  Correction,  amounting  substantially  to  an 
entirely  new  structure,  as  far  as  appearances  are  concerned, 
was  made  in  1873,  at  an  expenditure  of  some  $200,000. 

When  the  old  stone  jail  was  torn  down  in  1835,  the  material 
was  used  in  the  construction  of  the  stone  block  soon  after  built 
by  Capt.  Silas  Bailey,  stone  mason,  on  the  north  side  of  Front 
street,  just  west  of  the  old  canal,  and  now  about  a  rod  west  of 
the  viaduct.  It  has  recently  been  remodeled,  and  a  brick 
front  put  up,  but  the  ends  and  rear  of  the  block  show  the  old 
material,  which  for  so  mauy  years  formed  the  prison  walls  of 
the  old  jail. 

The  saddest  of  all  the  melancholy  reminiscences  connected 
with  the  old  stone  jail,  used  for  the  incarceration  of  poor 
debtors  as  well  as  criminals,  is  the  fact,  stated  in  the  records, 
that  the  patriot  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  committed  there  on  an 
execution  for  debt,  Feb.  15,  1790,  died  there,  March  31,  fol- 
lowing— the  entry  reading  "  Discharged  by  death,  April  1 ." 

Jailers  and  Keepers  of  the  House  of  Correction. 

Tiie  first  regular  jailer  was  Luke  Brown,  (see  page  58,) 
keeper  of  the  old '' Hancock  Arms"  tavern  on  Lincoln  street, 
from  1746.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Luke,  and  the  lat- 
ter's  son  Samuel  followed.  After  the  completion  of  the  new 
stone  jail  in  1788,  the  first  keeper  of  it  and  of  the  jail  tavern 
connected  therewith  was  Lemuel  Rice.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Dea.  Nathan  Heard  in  1798,  and  the  latter  by  his  son,  the 
present  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  in  1812.  The  latter  was  succeed- 
ed by  Asahel  Bellows  in  1824,  who  continued  until  the  demoli- 
tion of  the  old  stone  jail  in  1835,  and  the  transferrence  of  the 
prisoners  to  the  House  of  Correction  on  Summer  street,  since 
which  time  the  jail  and  House  of  Correction  have  been  in  the 
same  building. 

John  F.  Clark  was  keeper  of  the  House  of  Correction  from 
its  opening  in  1819  till  1837,  and  also  jailer  from  1835  to  1837. 
Asa  Matthews  was  jailer  and  keeper  from  1837  to  September  1, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  229 

1849,  wlien  Rufus  Carter,  who  had  previously  been  turnkey 
for  Mr.  Matthews  three  years,  succeeded  him  as  jailer  and  keep- 
er, occupying  that  position  for  over  twenty-two  years  till  Jan. 
1, 1872.  Charles  N.  Hair  succeeded  Mr.  Carter,  and  filled  the 
position  until  April  1,  1875,  wlieu  the  sheriff,  Gen.  A.  B.  R. 
Sprague,  took  charge  of  the  institution,  and  has  since  acted  as 
jailer  and  keeper.  The  present  turnkey,  Emery  Wilson,  has 
officiated  ten  years  in  that  capacity,  eight  of  them  under  Mr. 
Carter. 

COUNTY  OFFICERS. 

The  different  officers,  from  the  first  organization  of  the  coun- 
ty to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  146  years,  have  been  as  fol- 
lows. The  county  treasurers  and  registers  of  deeds  have  always 
been  chosen  by  the  people  ;  and  since  1857  the  other  county 
officers,  before  appointed  by  the  executive  authorities,  have 
been  elective  by  the  people  : 

Sheriffs. 
Daniel  Gookin,  12  years  to  1743  ;  Benjamin  Flagg,  8  years 
to  1751  ;  John  Chandler,  (afterwards  judge,)  11  years  to  1751  ; 
Gardner  Chandler,  (brother  of  the  latter,)  13  years  to  1775  ; 
Simeon  Dwight  of  Warren,  3  years  to  1778;  WiUiam  Green- 
leaf  of  Lancaster,  (grandfather  of  the  late  William  Greenleaf  of 
Worcester,)  10  years  to  his  death  in  1788  ;  John  Sprague  of 
Lancaster,  4  years  to  1792 ;  Dwight  Foster  of  Brookfield,  (ja 
thcr  of  the  late  Alfred  D.  Foster  of  Worcester,)  1  year  to  1798  ; 
William  Caldwell  of  Rutland,  (uncle  of  the  late  Seth  Caldwell 
of  Worcester,)  12  years  to  1805  ;  Thomas  W^alter  Ward  of 
Shrewsbury,  (son  of  Maj.  Gen.  Artemas  Ward,)  20  years  to 
1824  ;  Calvin  Willard,  20  years  to  1844  ;  John  W.  Lincoln,  7 
years  to  1851  ;  James  Estabrook,  2  years  to  1853  ;  George 
W.  Richardson  from  1853  to  1857  ;  John  S.  C.  Knowlton, 
14  1-2  years  to  his  death  July  1, 1871  ;  Gen.  A.  B.  R.  Sprague, 
the  present  incumbent,  being  now  in  his  sixth  year  of  service. 

Clerks  of  the   Courts. 
John  Cliandler,  sou   of  the  first  judge,  21   years   to  1752  ; 
Timothy  Paine,  28  years  to  1775  ;  Levi  Lincoln,  1  year  to  1776, 


230  Beminiscences    of  Worcester. 

when  he  was  appohited  judge  of  probate ;  Joseph  Allen,  (fa- 
ther of  Rev.  George  Allen,)  34  years  to  1810,  when  he  was 
chosen  member  of  Congress  ;  Wm.  Steadman,  4  years  to  1814  ; 
Francis  Blake,  3  years  to  1817  ;  Abijah  Bigelow,  (previously 
member  of  Congress,)  15  years  to  1832  ;  Joseph  G.  Kendall, 
(previously  member  of  Congress,)  15  years  to  1848  ;  Charles 
W.  Hartshorn,  5  years  to  1852;  Joseph  Mason,  24  years  to 
1877  ;  and  John  A.  Dana,  who  had  been  assistant  clerk  twelve 
years,  entered  upon  the  office  of  clerk,  January  1,  1S77,  with 
Maj.  Wm.  T.  Harlow,  assistant  clerk.  When  the  office  of  as- 
sistant clerk  was  first  created  in  1847,  Wm.  A.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed, and  served  seventeen  years  till  1865,  when  he  resigned 
on  account  of  ill-health. 

County  and  District   Attorneys. 

Before  the  revolution,  there  appear  to  have  been  no  persons 
specially  officiating  as  county  or  district  attorneys  in  the  courts, 
aside  from  the  general  attorneys  of  the  province.  Since  the 
adoption  of  the  first  State  Constitution  in  1780,  the  attorneys 
for  Worcester  county  (at  one  time  included  in  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict) have  been  successively  :  John  Sprague  of  Lancaster,  af- 
terwards judge  ;  Daniel  Bigelow,  son  of  the  second  Daniel 
Bigelow  of  Worcester  ;  Nathaniel  Paine,  for  twelve  years  till 
his  appointment  as  judge  of  probate  in  1801;  Edward  Bangs, 
ten  years  till  1811 ;  William  Charles  White,  seven  years  till 
his  decease.  May  2, 1818;  Rejoice  Newton,  six  years  to  1824  ; 
Edward  D.  Bangs,  one  year  till  his  election  as  Secretary  of 
State  in  1824  ;  Pliny  Merrick,  afterwards  judge,  twenty  years 
to  1844  ;  Ezra  Wilkinson  (now  judge)  of  Dedham,  seven  years 
to  1851 ;  Benjamin  F.  Newton  of  Worcester,  two  years  to 
1853  ;  P.  Emory  Aldrich,  (now  judge,)  to  1855 ;  John  H. 
Matthews  to  1856  ;  E.  B.  Stoddard  to  1857  ;  P.  Emory  Al- 
drich to  1866 ;  Hartley  Williams,  two  years  to  1868,  when  he 
became  judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  of  Worcester;  Wm.  W. 
Rice,  (now  Representative  in  Congress,)  five  years  to  1873  ; 
Hamilton  B.  Staples,  the  present  district  attorney,  being  now 
in   his   fifth   year   of  service. 


Reminiscences  of   Worcester,  231 

County  Treasurers. 

John  Chandler,  father  and  son,  of  Worcester,  (the  second 
and  third  judges  of  that  name,)  44  years  from  1731  to  1775  ; 
Nathan  Perry,  15  years  to  1790  ;  Samuel  Allen,  (uncle  of  Rev. 
George  Allen,)  40  years  to  1831  ;  Anthony  Chase,  35  years  to 
1866  ;  Charles  A.  Chase,  10  years  to  1876;  Edward  A.  Brown, 
the  present  incumbent,  being  in  his  second  year. 

Registers  of  Deeds. 

John  Chandler,  (tlie  second  judge,)  thirty  years  from  1731 
to  1761  ;  Timothy  Paine  fourteen  years  till  1775  ;  Nathan  Bald- 
win nine  years  till  his  death  in  1784  ;  Daniel  Clapp  tliirty-two 
years  till  1816  ;  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske  five  years  to  1821 ;  Artemas 
Ward  twenty-five  years  to  1846  ;  Alexander  H.  Wilder  thirty 
years  till  his  death,  Dec.  12,  1874,  Harvey  B.  Wilder,  filling  out 
the  remainder  of  his  fatlier's  term  to  January,  1876  ;  Charles 
A.  Chase  one  year  to  Jan.  1,  1877,  when  Harvey  B.  Wilder  be- 
gan his  present  term. 

Judges  of  Probate. 

John  Chandler  of  Woodstock,  from  1731  to  1740;  Joseph 
Wilder  of  Lancaster,  16  years  to  1756  ;  John  Chandler  of  Wor- 
cester, from  1756  to  his  death  in  1762  ;  John  Chandler,  Jr., 
of  Worcester,  13  years  to  1775  ;  Jedediah  Foster  of  Brookfield, 
1  year  to  1776  ;  Levi  Lincoln  of  Worcester,  7  years  to  1783  ; 
Joseph  Dorr  of  Ward,  (formerly  Worcester)  17  years  to  1801  ; 
Nathaniel  Paine,  35  years  to  1836  ;  Ira  M.  Barton,  8  years  to 
1844  ;  Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  (grandson  of  Isaiah  Thomas)  4 
years  to  1848  ;  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  9  years  to  his  death,  Jan- 
uary, 1857  ;  Dwight  Foster,  1  year  ;  Henry  Chapin,  the  pres- 
ent judge,  who  entered  upon  his  office,  July  1, 1858,  having 
thus  just  completed  his  nineteenth  year  of  service. 

Registers  of  Probate. 

John  Chandler,  (the  second  judge,)  twenty-six  years  from 
1731  to  1757  ;  Timothy  Paine,  ten  years  to  1767  ;  Clark  Chan- 
dler, eight  years  to  1775  ;  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler  (from  Har- 
vard,) seventeen  years  till  his  death,  Feb.   10,1793;  his  son, 


232  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Tlieophilus  Wheeler,  forty  three  years  till  1836  ;  Charles  G. 
Prentiss,  twenty-three  years  till  1859  ;  John  J.  Piper,  ten  years 
till  1869  ;  Charles  E.  Stevens,  the  present  register,  from  1869, 
with  F.  W.  Southwick  as  assistant  register,  Mr.  Stevens  hav- 
ing previously  been  assistant  register  from  1859. 

Court  of  Insolvency. 

A  Court  of  Insolvency  was  created  by  the  legislature  of 
1855,  and  went  into  operation,  July  1,  1856,  with  Alexander 
H.  Bullock  as  judge,  for  this  county,  and  Austin  L.  Rogers 
register.  Wm.  W.  Rice  soon  afterwards  succeeded  Gov.  Bul- 
lock as  judge,  and  John  J.  Piper  succeeded  Mr.  Rogers  as  re- 
gister in  1857.  July  1,  1858,  this  court  was  merged  with  the 
Probate  Court,  under  the  present  name  of  "  Court  of  Probate 
and  Insolvency,"  of  which  the  officers  have  since  been  as  stated 
under  the  head  of  the  "  Probate  Court."  Judge  Chapin's 
commission  dates  from  July  1,  1858  ;  and  Charles  E.  Stevens 
was  assistant  register  for  ten  years  from  Jan.  1, 1859,  and  has 
been  register  since  Jan.  1,  1869,  of  the  consolidated  Court  of 
Probate  and  Insolvency. 

Criers  of  the  Courts. 
Nathan  Heywood  from  1750  ;  Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  twenty- 
one  years  from  1779  to  1800  ;  Maj.  Ephraim  Mower  from  1800 
to  1807  ;  Silas  Brooks,  thirty-one  years  from  1307  to  1838  ; 
Gen.  Thomas  Chamberlain,  seventeen  years  to  his  decease, 
Sept.,  1855  ;  Henry  K.  Ncwcomb,  till  1867.  The  office  of 
crier,  (under  appointment  by  the  Governor,)  was  abolished  in 
1859,  since  which  time  those  who  have  acted  as  criers,  have 
done  so  by  virtue  of  being  deputy  sheriffs,  of  whom  Charles 
Sibley,  appointed  for  that  special  service,  has  been  crier  since 
April  1, 1872. 

Councillors. 

The  members  of  the  Executive  Council  from  this  county 
previous  to  the  revolution  were  John  Chandler,  father  and  son, 
Timothy  Paine,  Timothy  Ruggles  of  Hardwick  and  John  Mur- 
ray of  Rutland.  During  the  revolution,  this  body,  who  had 
the  general  management  of  affairs  by  appointment  of  the  Pro- 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  233 

vincial  Congress,  was  composed  of  such  men  as  tlie  Bigelowsof 
Worcester,  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  Moses  Gill  of 
Princeton,  Samuel  Baker  of  Berlin  and  others.  After  the 
adoption  of  the  State  constitution  in  1780,  Moses  Gill  was 
the  councillor  for  this  county  till  1794,  with  the  exception 
of  the  year  1787  and  1788,  when  that  position  was  oc- 
cupied by  Gen.  Artemas  Ward.  Samuel  Baker  of  Berlin 
was  councillor  in  1795  ;  Jonathan  Warner  of  Hardwick 
in  1796  and  1797  ;  Josiah  Stearns  of  Ashburnham  in  1798  and 
1799;  Elijah  Brigham  of  Westborough  in  1800  and  1801; 
Daniel  Bigelow  of  Petersham  in  1802  ;  Salem  Towne,  senior, 
of  Charlton  in  1803,  1801  and  1805  ;  Bezaleel  Taft,  Sr.,  of  Ux- 
bridge  in  1806 ;  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  of  Worcester  in  1807, 
1811  and  1812  ;  Col.  Timothy  Newell  of  Sturbridge  in  1808  ; 
Dr.  Oliver  Fiske  of  Worcester  in  1813, 1814  and  1815  ;  Joseph 
Allen  of  Worcester  in  1816,  1817  and  1818  ;  Dwight  Foster  of 
Brookfield  in  1819  ;  Silas  Holman  of  Bolton  in  1821  and  1822  ; 
Jonas  Kendall  of  Leominster,  (father  of  the  late  Hon.  Joseph 
G.  Kendall  of  Worcester,)  in  1823  ;  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln  of 
Worcester  in  1824 ;  Edmund  Gushing  of  Lunenburg,  three 
years  to  1828  ;  Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  of  Uxbridge,  three  years  to 
1831 ;  Joseph  Bowman  of  New  Braintree  to  1834  ;  David  Wil- 
der of  Leominste?  to  1836  ;  Samuel  Mixter  of  Hardwick  to 
1838;  Charles  Hudson  of  Westminster  to  1841;  Linus  Child 
of  Southbridge  in  1842  ;  Jedediah  Marcy  of  Southbridge  in 
1843  ;  Alfred  D.  Foster  of  Worcester  in  1844  and  1845  ;  Chas. 
Russell  of  Princeton  in  1846  and  1847  ;  Samuel  Wood  of  Graf- 
ton in  1849  and  1850  ;  Isaac  Davis  of  Worcester  in  1851  and 
1852  ;  Ebenezer  Torrey  of  Fitchburg  in  1853  and  1854  ;  Elmer 
Brigham  of  Westborough  in  1855  ;  Edward  Denny  of  Barre  in 
1856  ;  Ansel  Phelps  of  Greenfield  in  1857  ;  Austin  L.  Rogers 
of  Worcester  in  1858  and  1859  ;  Aaron  C.  Mayhew  of  Milford 
in  1860  ;  Hugh  W.  Greene  of  Northfield  in  1861  ;  Dr.  Alfred 
Hitchcock  of  Fitchburg  in  1862  and  1863  ;  Jonathan  D.  Wheel- 
er of  Grafton  in  1863  ;  Hartley  Williams  of  Worcester  in  1864 
and  1865  ;  Dr.  J.  F.  Hitchcock  of  Warren  in  1865 ;  Charles 
A.  Stevens  of  Ware  in  1866  and  1867;  Charles  Adams,  Jr.,  of 
North  Brookfield  in  1868,  1869  and  1870  ;  Elijah  B.  Stoddard 
30 


234  Reminiscejices  of  Worcester. 

of  Worcester  in  1871  and  1872  ;  Milo  Hildretli  of  Xorthborougli 
in  1872,  187o  and  1874  ;  George  Whitney  of  Ruyalston  in 
1873,  1874,  1875,  187G  and  1877.* 

Representatives  in  Congress. 
One  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  old  Continental  Congress 
was  General  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  first  appointed  in 
1779.  The  first  representative  in  Congress  from  tlie  Worcester 
district,  under  the  constitution,  was  Jonathan  Grout  of  Peters- 
ham (noticed  on  page  108,)  who  served  from  ilie  first  organiza- 
tion of  tlie  government  in  1789  till  March  4,  1791.  Gen. 
Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury  succeeded  him,  serving  four  years 
till  March  4,  1795,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Dwight  Foster  of 
Brookfield,  (father  of  the  late  Alfred  D.  Foster  of  Worcester,) 
who  served  four  years  till  1799,  wlien  he  was  elected  United 
States  Senator.  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  succeeded  Foster 
as  representative,  serving  till  1801,  when  he  resigned  to  take 
tlie  position  of  the  Attorney  General  of  tlie  United  States  un- 
der President  Jefferson,  acting  also  a  short  time  as  Secretary 
of  State.  The  representatives  in  Congress  from  this  county 
have  since  been  :  Seth  Hastings  of  Mendon  from  1801  to  1807  ; 
Jabez  Upham  of  Brookfield  from  1S07  to  1810  ;  Joseph  Allen 
of  Worcester,  (father  of  Hon.  Clias.  Allen,)  from  1810  to  1811  ; 
Elijah  Brigham  of  Westborough  from  1811  to  1815;  Abijah 
Bigelow  of  Westminster  from  1810  to  1815,  (afterwards  of 
Worcester  and  clerk  of  the  courts,)  the  northernmost  towns  of 
Worcester  county  being  at  that  time  attached  to  another  Con- 
gressional district ;  Solomon  Strong  of  Leominster  from  1815 
to  1819  ;  Jonas  Kendall  of  Leominster,  (father  of  Joseph  G. 
Kendall,)  from  1819  to  1821  ;  Benjamin  Adams  of  Uxbridge 
from  1815  to  1821  ;  Lewis  Bigelow  of  Petersham  from  1821 
to  1823  ;  Joseph  G.  Kendall  of  Leominster,  (afterwards  of 
Worcester  and  clerk  of  the  courts,)  representative  from  1829 
to  1833  ;  John  Davis  of  Worcester  from  1825  to  1834,  after- 
wards Governor  and  United  States  Senator  ;  the  second  Levi 
Lincoln  of  Worcester,  (Governor  from  1824  to  1833,)  represent- 

*  At  difierent  periods,  some  of  the  Worcester  county  towns  have  been  taken 
to  form  other  councillor  districts. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  35 

alive  from  183-4  to  1841  ;  Wm.  S.  Hastings  of  Meiidon,  (sou 
of  Setli  Hastings,)  from  1837  to  1842,  the  southernmost 
towns  of  this  county  being  at  that  time  attached  to  another 
district ;  Charles  Hudson  of  Westminster  from  1841  to  1849  ; 
Charles  Allen  of  Worcester  from  1849  to  1853,  (afterwards 
cliief  justice  of  tlie  Superior  Court;)  Alexander  DeWitt  of 
Oxford  from  1853  to  1857  ;  Eli  Thayer  of  Worcester  from 
1857  to  1861 ;  Goldsmith  F.  Bailey  of  Fitchburg  from  1861 
to  his  decease,  May  8,  1862,  succeeded  by  Amasa  Wall<:er  of 
North  Brookfield  to  Marcli  4,  1863  ;  John  D.  Baldwin  of 
Worcester,  (senior  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Spy,)  from 
1863  to  1869;  George  F.  Hoar  of  Worcester  from  1869  to 
1877,  (afterwards  United  States  Senator  ;)  Wm.  W.  Rice  of 
Worcester  from  March  4,  1877. 

Besides  the  above,  xVlvali  Crocker  of  Fitchburg  was  represent- 
ative from  1871  to  his  decease,  Dec.  27,  1874,  and  Amasa  Nor- 
cross  of  Fitchburg  is  the  present  member  from  Mnrch  4,  1877, 
that  section  of  the  county  being  again  attached  to  annther 
district. 

Other   Distinguished  Officers. 

Worcester  has  furnished  two  Attorney  Generals  of  the  United 
States, — Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  from  1801  to  1804,  and  Charles 
Devens,  the  present  incumbent,  from  March  4,  1877  ;  also  two 
Attorney  Generals  of  Massachusetts, — James  Putnam  from 
1769  to  1775,  and  Dwight  Foster  from  1861  to  1864  ;  also  two 
United  States  Senators, — John  Davis  from  1838  to  1841  and 
from  1845  to  1853,  and  George  F.  Hoar  from  March  4,  1877  ; 
one  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and  Minister  to  England  and  Ger- 
many, George  Bancroft ;  two  United  States  Collectors  for  the 
port  of  Boston,  George  Bancroft  under  Van  Buren  and  Gov. 
Levi  Lincoln  under  President  Harrison.  Worcester  has  had 
seven  judges  of  the  State  Supreme  Court,  and  one  of  her  first 
eminent  citizens,  the  first  Levi  Lincoln,  was  appointed  by  Pres- 
ident Jefferson  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  but  declined  on  account  of  ill-liealtli.  Worcester  has 
also  furnished  five  governors  of  the  State,  the  two  Levi  Lin- 
colns,  John  Davis,  Emory  Washburn  and  A.  H.  Bullock,  and 
one  governor  of  Maine,  Enoch  Lincoln  ;  four  speakers  of  the 


236  Reminiscences  of  Woi^cesier. 

House  of  Representatives,  Levi  Lincoln,  Timothy  Bigelow, 
Thomas  Kinnicutt  and  Alexander  H.  Bullock  ;  nine  representa- 
tives in  Congress  :  Levi  Lincoln,  Sr., Joseph  Allen,  John  Davis, 
Levi  Lincoln,  jr.,  Charles  Allen,  Eli  Thayer,  John  D.  Baldwin, 
Geo.  F.  Hoar  andW.  W.  Rice  ;  and  one  secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, Edward  D.  Bangs. 

The  old  town  of  Mendon  has  furnislied  three  representatives 
in  Congress,  Seth  and  Wm.  S.  Hastings  and  Samuel  Dexter  ; 
one  L^nited  States  Senator,  Secretary  of  ^Yar,  and  of  the 
Treasury,  Samuel  Dexter  ;  and  an  unusually  large  number  of 
county  officers.  Brookfield  has  furnished,  besides  many  coun- 
ty officials,  one  United  States  senator,  judge  and  sheriff,  in  the 
person  of  Dwight  Foster;  one  chief  justice  of  the  old  County 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  the  latter's  father,  Jedediah  Foster  ; 
and  two  representatives  in  Congress,  Dwight  Foster  and  Jabez 
L^pham.  Lancaster  has  also  been  well  honored  in  the  furnish- 
ing of  many  noted  officials,  among  them  Joseph  Wilder,  father 
and  son,  successively  judges  of  the  Court  of  Probate  and  of 
the  County  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Leicester  has  had  one 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  Collector  of  the  port  of  Boston, 
David  Henshaw.  Southbridge  has  furnished  a  Secretary  of 
War,  and  Secretary  of  State,  of  the  United  States,  and  a  Gov- 
ernor and  United  States  Senator  for  New  York,  in  the  person 
of  William  L.  Marcy.  Leominster  has  furnished  two  members 
of  Congress,  Jonas  Kendall  and  Joseph  G.  Kendall,  father  and 
son,  and  one  State  Treasurer  and  Auditor,  David  Wilder, 
North  Brookfield  has  furnished  one  Secretary  of  the  Common- 
wealth, Amasa  Walker,  and  one  State  Treasurer,  Charles 
Adams.  Fitchburg  has  furnished  three  members  of  Congress, 
G.  F.  Bailey,  Alvah  Crocker  and  Amasa  Norcross.  Shrews- 
bury has  furnished  a  Major  General  of  the  United  States  Army, 
and  two  chief  justices  of  the  State  Courts,  in  the  persons  of 
Gen.  Artemas  Ward,  and  his  son,  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  Jr. 
Petersham,  Westminster  and  Oxford  have  had  representatives 
in  Congress  in  the  persons  respectively  of  Jonathan  Grout, 
Abijah  l^igelow  and  xVlexander  DeWitt. 


WASHINGTON  AND  LAFAYliTTE. 


CHAPTER    XY. 


Washington  and  Lafayette  in  Worcester. 

Both  these  world-renowned  champions  of  liberty  in  America 
— one  the  revered  "  Father  of  his  country,"  and  the  other  his 
illustrious  compeer  and  companion  in  arms  from  across  the 
w^ater,  made  visits  to  the  old  town  of  Worcester, — each  passing 
through  it  twice  on  different  occasions,  allusions  to  wliich  may 
be  appropriate  in  this  connection.  Washington's  first  visit  was 
made  wlien  he  came  to  take  command  of  the  army  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1775. 

Washington's  First  Visit  to  Worcester  in  1775. 
George  Washington  of  Virginia  was  appointed,  June  15, 1775, 
by  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelph.ia,  (of  which  body 
he  was  a  member,)  commandcr-in-cliief  of  the  American  army. 
He  left  Philadelphia,  June  21,  following,  for  Cambridge,  Mass., 
to^take  command,  and  was  accompanied  by  Gen.  Charles  Lee 
of  Virginia.  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury  and  Gen. 
Lee  had  been  appointed,  June  16,  first  and  second  Major  Gen- 
erals, next  to  Washington.  Gen.  Ward  had  been  previously  in 
command  at  Cambridge  by  authority  of  the  Massachusetts  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  which  body  had  appointed  him  commander, 
in-chief,  the  preceding  May  19.  Washington  and  Lee  arrived 
after  four  days'  journey,  at  New  York,  June  25,  when  they 
first  heard  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  They  left  New  York 
on  the  afternoon  of  June  26th,  and  stopped  that  night  at  King's 
bridge,  (now   Williams  bridge.)     They   passed   through   New 


238    •  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Haven  and  Hartford  to  Springfield,  at  wliich  latter  place  they 
were  met  by  Dr.  Chnrcli  and  Hon.  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton, 
a  committee  of  the  Massachusetts  Provincial  Congress,  sent  to 
receive  them,  and  when  the  party  had  arrived  at  Brookfield, 
(stopping  on  the  way  at  Palmer  and  Warren,)  they  were  met 
by  a  company  of  horsemen  from  Worcester,  under  command 
of  Capt.  James  Chadwick,  by  whom  they  were  escorted  to 
Worcester,  where  they  arrived  Saturday,  July  1,  1775,  and 
stopped  at  the  old  Stearns  (previously  King's  Arms)  tavern, 
occupying  the  site  of  the  present  Lincoln  ] louse.  The  next 
day,  (Sunday,  July  2,)  in  the  forenoon,  they  arrived  at  Wa- 
tertown,  where  they  were  received  by  the  Provincial  Congress 
with  congratulatory  addresses,  and  escorted  to  Cambridge  by  a 
troop  of  light  horse.  Washington  went  immediately  to  the 
quarters  provided  for  him.  The  following  day,  Monday,  July 
3,  he  formally  took  command  of  the  American  army  under  the 
wide  spreading  branches  of  that  grand  old  patriarchal  elm  on 
Cambridge  Common,  made  classic  by  tlie  pens  of  historians 
and  poets. 

Washington  was  also  accompanied  on  this  journey  through 
Worcester,  by  his  private  secretary,  Col.  Joseph  Reed  of  Phila- 
delphia. The  house  where  the  party  stopped  while  here,  was  the 
hotel  opened  nearly  half  a  century  previous  by  Capt.  Thomas 
Stearns,  before  referred  to,  and  afterwards  the  residence  of 
William  Sever,  father  of  the  late  Mrs.  Gov.  Lincoln.  It 
was  a  large  two-story  frame  house,  with  a  room  on  each 
side  of  the  front  door,  one  used  for  a  parlor  and  the  other 
for  a  bar  room  and  office.  Lodgings  were  provided  on  this  oc- 
casion for  a  part  of  the  escort,  on  the  parlor  floor,  where  beds 
were  made  up,  the  house  being  full.  The  old  elm  trees  seen 
in  the  engraving  facing  page  247,  which  have  within  a  few 
years  given  way  before  the  march  of  business,  afforded  shelter 
one  hundred  years  ago  to  Washington  and  the  party  accom- 
panying him  through  Worcester. 

A  few  months  later,  in  the  fore  part  of  December,  Mrs. 
Washington  passed  through  Worcester  to  join  her  husband  at 
Cambridge,  accompanied  by  her  son,  George  Washington 
Parke  Custis  and  his   wife,  with   otlier  ladies   of  tlie  families 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  239 

of  several  officers  of  the  army  at  headquarters.  Tliis 
party  also  stopped  at  the  same  hotel,  on  their  way.  Mrs. 
Washington  came  from  Mount  Vernon  in  her^own  conveyance 
— "  a  chariot  and  four,  with  black  postilions  in  scarlet  and 
white  liveries.''  The  night  of  Nov.  29,  was  spent  at  the  house 
of  Dr.  Wm.  Burnet,  on  Broad  street,  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  Cam- 
bridge was  reached,  after  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  Dec.  11, 
when  she  proceeded  directly  to  her  husband's  headquarters. 
It  was  probably  about  Dec.  9,  tliat  the  party  arrived  at  Wor- 
cester. 

Washington's  Second  Visit  to  Worcester  in  1789. 
Washington's  second  visit  to  Worcester  was  in  the  autumn 
of  1789,  when  he  made  bis  tour  through  New  England  after 
his  first  inauguration  as  President  of  tlie  United  States.  For 
.the  sake  of  completeness,  and  on  account  of  the  connection, 
there  is  included  in  the  following  sketch  some  detail  of  tlie 
journey  before  and  after  reaching  Worcester,  as  well  as  while 
here,  and  of  the  magnificent  ovation  extended  to  him  in  Boston  : 

On  Thursday  moriuDg,  Oct.  15,  1789,  George  Washington,  president  of 
the  United  States,  started  from  the  city  of  New  York,  (then  the  seat  of 
government,)  on  a  visit  to  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire. 
He  came  in  his  own  carriage,  accompanied  by  two  of  his  secretaries,  Tobias 
Lear  and  JMaj.  Jackson.  No  event  since  the  establishment  of  peace  liad 
given  sach  general  satisfaction  and  joy  to  the  inhabitants  along  the  route 
as  the  honor  of  this  visit.  The  people  delighted  to  honor  their  revered 
chief  magistrate.  In  every  place  through  which  he  passed,  the  inhabitants 
of  all  ranks,  ages  and  conditions,  testified  their  joy  at  the  opportunity  to 
beliold  the  political  savior  of  their  coantry.  The  route  taken  was  through 
New  Haven,  Hartford,  Springfield,  Brookfield,  Spencer,  Leicester,  Worces- 
ter, Shrewsbury,  Marlborough,  etc.,  to  Boston.  He  arrived  in  New  Haven, 
Saturday  night,  remaining  over  the  Sabbath.  On  Monday,  he  proceeded  to 
Hartford,  (staying  over  Tuesday)  ;  the  legislature  of  Connecticut  being  in 
session,  a  committee  from  both  houses  was  chosen  to  prepare  an  address  to 
him,  which  was  presented,  as  also  an  address  from  the  city  government  and 
clergy  of  that  city,  to  both  of  which  "  His  Highness"  returned  responses. 
On  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  he  journeyed  through  Sjiringfield,  Palmer, 
Warren,  Brookfield,  Spencer  and  Leicester  to  AVorcester,  being  greeted  all 
along  the  route  by  heartfelt  and  continuous  demonstrations  of  respect  and 
love. 

Reception  in  Worcester. 

Information  being  received  in  Worcester  during  Thursday  evening, 
that  Washington  would  be  here  the  next  morning,  [Friday,  Oct.  23,  178U  j' 
a  company  of  respectable  citizens,  about  forty  in  number,  paraded  before 
sunrise,  on  horse-back,  and  went  out  as  far  as  Leicester  line  to  welcome 
him  into  the  town.     The  Worcester   Company  of  Artillery  commanded   by 


240  Reminiscences  of    Worceste7\ 

Maj,  Wm.  Treadwell  were  already  assembled,  on  notice  being  given  that 
Washington  was  approaching,  and  before  he  reached  here,  five  cannon  were 
tired  for  the  New  England  States — "  three  cannon  for  the  three  States  in  the 
Union,  one  for  Vermont  which  will  be  speedily  admitted,  and  one  as  a  call 
to  Rhode  Island  to  be  ready  before  it  is  too  late."  [Maine  was  a  part  of 
Massachusetts  until  1820.]  \Vhen  the  "  President  General"  had  arrived  in 
sight  of  the  meeting-house,  [the  Old  South  Church,]  eleven  more  cannon 
were  fired.  Washington  viewed  with  great  interest  and  attention  the  Artil- 
lery Company  as  he  passed,  and  expressed  to  the  inhabitants  his  sense  of 
the  honor  done  him.  He  stopped  at  the  •'  United  States  Arms,"  [now  Ex- 
change Hotel,]  where  he  took  breakfast,  and  then  proceeded  on  his  journey. 
To  gratify  the  inhabitants,  he  politely  passed  through  town  on  horse-back. 
He  was  dressed  in  a  brown  suit,  and  pleasure  glowed  in  every  countenance 
as  he  came  along.  Eleven  more  cannon  were  fired  as  he  departed.  The  par- 
ty of  forty  citizens,  before  mentioned,  escorted  him  a  few  miles  from  the 
village,  when  they  took  their  leave.  The  route  traveled  was  up  Lincoln 
street,  across  the  upper  end  of  Long  Pond  by  the  old  road,  through  Shrews- 
bury, etc.  At  the  line  of  Marlborough,  Washington  was  met  by  Capt. 
Rice's  company  of  horse,  well  mounted  and  in  complete  uniform.  They 
escorted  him  to  Capt.  Williams'  tavern,  where  he  was  met  by  the  United 
States  Marshal  of  the  Massachusetts  District,  Jonathan  Jackson,  with  whom 
he  dined.  From  tlience  he  proceeded  to  Capt.  Fiagg's  tavern  in  Weston, 
where  he  lodged  and  breakfasted  the  next  morning,  [Oct.  23.]  Here  Capt. 
Fuller's  company  of  horse  met  him  and  escorted  him  to  Cambridge.  Tlie 
"Father  of  his  country"  was  cordially  saluted  by  the  Watertown  Artillery 
as  he  passed.  He  stopped  about  an  hour  at  the  seat  he  formerly  occupied 
as  his  headquarters,  when  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  army  at 
Cambridge,  [for  many  years  past  the  residence  of  the  poet,  Henry  Wads- 
worth  Longfellow.]  Gen.  John  Brooks  [of  Medfurd,  commanding  Third 
Division  M.  V.  M.,]  had  mustered  and  paraded  on  Cambridge  Common 
about  one  thousand  of  the  neighboring  militia  all  in  complete  uniform  and 
equipment.  They  saluted  the  "  President  General,"  who  was  on  horse- 
back as  he  passed  them.  The  health  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  (John 
Hancock)  would  not  permit  him  to  go  abroad,  and  he  was  consequently  de- 
prived of  the  pleasure  of  partaking  largely  in  the  enjoyment  (jf  the  day. 
Ilis  Hon.  the  Lieut. -Governor,  (Samuel  Adams,)  the  Executive  Council,  Ex- 
Gov.  James  Bawdoin,  and  others  frum  Boston,  escorted  by  Col.  Tyler "s 
troop  of  horse,  met  Washington  at  Cambridge,  and  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Jonathan  Jackson,  the  United  States  Marshal,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Henderson, 
sheriff  of  Suffolk  County,  escorted  the  •'  Father  of  his  country"  to  Boston, 
where  a  grand  civil  and  military  greeting  awaited  him.  He  was  met  at  the 
entrance  by  the  selectmen  and  other  officials  of  the  then  town  of  Boston, 
Avho  extended  him  a  cordial  welcome.  The  street  from  the  town  line  to  the 
State  House  was  crowded  with  people  as  was  also  Boston  Neck  ;  the  town 
procession,  already  formed,  readied  from  the  entrance  of  the  town  to  Seven 
Star  Lane,  and  the  school  boys  with  the  masters  at  their  head  reached  from 
near  Seven  Star  Lane  to  the  State  House  ;  they  opened  to  the  right  and  left, 
and  Washington,  on  horse-back,  dressed  in  military  uniform,  with  his  suit, 
passed  through  them,  preceded  by  the  Independent  Company  of  Light  In- 
fantry, commanded  by  jNIaj.  Otis,  Independent  Fusileers,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Laughton,  Independent  Cadets,  under  command  of  Maj,  Scollay,  and 
Capt.  Johnson's  Company  of  Artillery  ;  the  whole  under  command  of  Col, 
Bradford  By  the  august  procession  thus  headed,  and  accompanied  by  the 
officials  of  the  state  and  town,  Washington  was  escorted  through  the  vast 
throng  of  admiiing  spectators,  under  a  magnificent  triumphal  arch  extend- 
ing from  the  Old  State  House  across  Coruhiil  to  the  building  opposite,  erected 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  241 

in  his  honor.  On  the  top  of  this  arch  was  a  gallery  in  which  was  a  select 
choir  of  singers  of  both  sexes.  In  the  middle  of  the  gallery  over  the  arch 
was  erected  a  pyramid,  at  the  top  of  Avhich  were  the  Arms  of  the  United 
States.  On  one  side  over  the  arch  were  inscribed  the  words  :  "To  the  man 
who  unites  all  hearts."  On  the  opposite  side:  "To  Columbia's  Favorite 
Son."  At  the  end  of  the  arch  next  to  the  State  House  on  a  large  ground 
were  the  words:  "Boston  relieved  March  17,  1776,"  with  devices  em- 
blematical of  the  union  between  France  and  America. 

The  different  military  companies  formed  on  State  street,  and  Washington 
was  conducted  through  them  to  the  State  House,  and  through  that  to  the 
west  end  of  that  building,  where  a  handsome  gallery  on  seven  large  pillars 
was  erected  near  the  triumphal  arch.  At  the  back  of  this  gallery,  which 
was  covered  with  rich  carpeting,  stood  erected  on  a  pedestal  a  handsome, 
emblematical  figure  of  the  Goddess  of  Harvest,  holding  the  Cornucopia,  or 
Horn  of  Plenty.  On  his  arrival  at  this  gallery,  in  view  of  so  many  thou- 
sands, instantly  the  welkin  rang  with  loud  huzzas  !  Washington  bowed 
gracefully  to  all  around,  and  the  choir  sang  an  ode,  "  To  Columbia's  Favor- 
ite Son." 

The  Vice-President,  John  Adams  :  the  Lieut. -Governor.  Samuel  Adams  ; 
Ex-Governor  James  Bowdoin  ;  the  members  of  the  Executive  Council  \ 
United  States  Marshal,  Sheriff  and  other  officials  were  in  the  gallery  with 
President  Washington. 

The  procession  then  passed  in  view  of  the  "  President  General,"  after 
which  the  Independent  Military  Companies  escorted  the  President  to  his  re- 
sidence on  Court  street,  fired  three  volleys,  and  were  dismissed.  The  re- 
joicings of  the  day  were  followed  by  illuminations  in  the  evening.  Wash- 
ington remained  in  Boston  till  Oct.  29,  when  he  left  for  New  Hampshire, 
through  Salem  and  Newburyport,  returning  the  following  week. 

Washington  returned  to  Philadelphia,  after  his  northern 
tour,  from  Boston,  by  what  was  called  the  "lower  route," 
through  Mendon,  Uxbridge,  etc.  Ho  stopped  in  Uxbridge  at 
the  house  of  one  Samuel  Taft.  The  old  homestead  dwelling  of 
this  Samuel  Taft,  where  Washington  was  thus  entertained  and 
lodged  the  fore  part  of  November,  1789,  with  the  brave  old  oak 
tree  in  front  of  it,  remains  to  the  present  day  in  possession  of  the 
family,  sacredly  preserved  in  commemoration  of  the  "  Father  of 
his  country."  Washington  was  so  well  pleased  with  his  recep- 
tion and  entertainment  in  Uxbridge,  that  after  his  arrival  at 
Hartford,  on  the  way  to  New  York,  he  wrote  Mr.  Taft  the  fol- 
lowing letter  : 

"Hartford,  Nov.  8,  1789. 
Sir: — Being  informed  that  you  have  given  mj-  name  to  one  of  your  sons,  and  called  another  after 
Mrs.  Washington's  family,''  [Dandridge,]  "  and  being  moreover  very  much  pleased  with  tl  e  modest 
and  innocent  looks  of  your  two  daughters,  Patty  and  Polly,  I  do  for  these  reasons  send  each  oi 
these  girls  apiece  of  chintz  ;  and  to  Patty,  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Washington,  and  who 
%yaited  more  upon  us  than  Polly  did,  I  send  five  guineas,  with  which  she  may  buy  herself  any 
little  ornaments  she  may  want,  or  she  may  dispose  of  them  in  any  other  m:iuner  more  agreeable  to 
herself.  As  I  do  not  give  these  things  with  a  view  to  have  it  talked  of,  or  even  to  its  being  known, 
the  less  there  is  said  about  ttie  matter  the  better  you  will  please  me ;  but,  that  I  may  be  sure  the 
chintz  and  mrney  have  got  safe  to  hand,  let  Patty,  who  I  dare  say  is  equal  to  it,  write  me  a  line 
informing  me  thereof,  directed  '  To  the  President  of  the  United  States,  at  New  York.'  I  vish  you 
and  your  f.mily  well,  and  am  your  humble  servant.  George  Washington." 

31 


242  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

On  his  \yay  through  Meudoii,  Wasliingtou  called  on  one  of 
his  old  companions  in  arms,  who  served  under  hini,  C-jL  xVm- 
midon,  hut  did  not  find  him  at  home.  On  returning  home  at 
night,  Col.  Ammidon  feeling  sorely  disappointed  at  the  loss  of 
this  opportunity  of  seeing  his  old  commander,  started  out  im- 
mediately with  his  daughter  for  Uxbridge,  and  called  upon 
Washington  at  the  place  where  he  had  stopped,  the  old  Samuel 
Taft  mansion.  Washington  had  retired,  but  on  the  name  of 
liis  visitor  being  announced,  he  immediately  came  down  in  his 
slippers,  and  a  cordial  interview  was  had.  At  the  close,  before 
])arting,  Washington  said  to  the  daughter,  "  You  have  come  so 
far  to  see  an  old  man, — how  far  would  you  have  como  to  see  a 
young  man  ?"     Tlie  reply  was  not  handed  down. 

Independence  Whipple,  (referred  to  on  page  61,)  who  died 
Oct.  24,  1873,  aged  96,  and  was  consequently  twelve  years  old, 
when  Washington  passed  through  Uxbridge  and  Douglas  on 
this  return  trip,  used  to  tell  of  his  having  received  a  bow  from 
the  "  Father  of  his  country"  on  that  occasion.  While  standing 
in  tlie  road  near  his  father's  house  on  the  old  Douglas  and 
Hartford  Turnpike,  he  saw  a  great  carriage  coming  up  the 
road,  from  Boston,  with  outriders,  and  when  it  came  opposite 
to  him,  he  saw  a  military  gentleman  looking  out  of  the  window. 
True  to  his  native  instincts  for  politeness,  and  as  little  boys 
used  to  be  taught  to  do  in  those  old  fashioned  times  to  their 
superiors  passing  them  on  tlie  highway^  Indepei\dence  took  off 
his  hat  and  made  as  graceful  a  bow  as  he  could,  which  was  as 
gracefully  returned  by  the  military  gentleman  in  the  carriage, 
who  proved  to  be  no  less  a  personage  than  President  Washing- 
ton himself,  on  his  return  home  from  this  northern  trip.  In- 
dependence Whipple  gave  the  following  description  of  Wash- 
ington's equipage  on  this  occasion,  of  which  he  made  a  particular 
notice,  it  being  the  same  as  passed  through  Worcester  three 
weeks  previous : 

1.  A  gentleman  in  unifurm  on  a  beautiful  dapple  grey  horse. 

2.  Next,  two  aids  on  dapple  grey  horses  in  uniform. 

3.  Bay  horses  with  two  negro  boys  as  riders,  the  Jiorses  attached  to  a 
traveling  carriage  in  which  sat  Gen.  Washington. 

4.  Behind  was  the  baggage  wagon  with  two  bay  horses,  containing  the 
baggage. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  243 

Lafayette's  First  Visit  to    Worcester    in  1824. 

Lafayette  landed  in  NevY  York  City,  Aug.  15,  1824,  on  his  sec- 
ond visit  to  this  country  after  the  achievement  of  our  independ- 
ence in  which  he  bore  so  memorable  and  conspicuous  a  part. 
Comnio;  by  invitation  of  Congress,  his  progress  through  the 
country  resembled  a  "continuous  triumplial  procession." 
Leaving  New  York  for  Boston,  by  the  route  through  New 
Haven,  New  London  and  Providence,  he  reached  the  residence 
of  Gov.  Wm.  Eustis  in  Boston,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  Tuesday,  Aug.  24.  From  that  time  until  noon  of  Thursday, 
Sept.  3,  he  was  the  recipient  of  ovations,  civil  and  military, 
from  the  citizens  and  public  bodies  of  Boston  and  vicinity, 
(including  a  trip  tlirough  Salem  and  Newburyport  to  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,)  as  he  had  been  in  New  York  City  and  during 
his  journey  to  Massachusetts. 

An  interesting  incident  relative  to  one  of  Lafayette's  officers 
from  this  county,  which  happened  at  tliis  time,  is  too  good  to 
be  omitted.  When  he  arrived  at  Gov.  Eustis'  from  Rhode 
Island,  it  being  so  late,  the  numerous  party  who  had  been  so 
long  waiting  there  to  receive  him,  had  retired,  all  but  one  per- 
son, a  young  man  named  Moses  Mandell  from  Hardwick,  who 
has  recently  deceased  at  Barre,  who  was  in  the  vicinity  deter- 
mined to  get  a  look  at  his  father's  old  commander.  When  La- 
fayette came  at  last,  all  unexpected,  the  Governor  rushed 
around,  in  his  exultation  of  delight,  to  find  somebody  to  intro- 
duce his  distinguished  guest  to.  Coming  across  young  Mand- 
ell, he  said  to  him,  "  Come  in  and  see  the  most  distinguished 
man  in  the  world."  Mandell  went  in,  and  after  some  little 
conversation,  Lafayette  inquired  more  particularly  about  the 
name  of  his  visitor.  The  latter  said  to  him,  "  Do  you  remem- 
ber the  officer  who  dismounted  from  his  horse  and  served  a 
gun  alone  after  the  enemy  had  driven  us  back  at  the  battle  of 
Brandywine?"  Lafayette,  after  a  little  reflection,  replied,  "  It 
was  Mandale  I — Major  Mandate  .'"  "  Tliat  was  my  father," 
said  the  young  man,  and  then  followed  a  season  of  warm  em- 
bracings  and  congratulations  on  the  part  of   both. 

Meanwhile  arrangements  were  beino-  made  on  a  ma<>-nificent 
scale  for  the  reception  of  the   nation's   distinguished  guest  in 


244  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Worcester.  A  coinmitteo  of  prominent  citizens,  of  which  Gov. 
Levi  Liiicohi,  (then  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,)  was  chair- 
man, had  charge  of  the  affair,  in  co-operation  with  the  civil  and 
military  authorities,  the  sixth  division  of  tlie  State  militia  be- 
ing called  out  to  aid  in  the  display. 

The  general  and  staff  of  the  sixth  division,  commanded  by 
Maj.  Gen.  Ivors  Jewett  of  Fitchburg,  and  of  the  second  brigade, 
commanded  by  Gen.  Frank  Gregory  of  Royalston,  with  the 
companies  of  cavalry  attached  to  the  first  and  second  regiments 
of  infantry,  assembled  at  Bolton  on  Thursday  afternoon,  Sept. 
2,  to  receive  Gen.  Lafayette  at  the  line  of  the  county,  and  con- 
duct him  to  the  residence  of  S.  V.  S.  Wilder,  and  thence  the 
following  morning  to  Worcester.  The  company  of  cavalry  at- 
tached to  the  sixth  regiment  of  infantry  of  the  first  brigade, 
was  paraded  on  West  Boylston  Common  early  Friday  morning, 
to  assist  in  the  escort  to  Worcester.  Brig.  Gen.  Nathan  Heard 
and  staff  of  the  first  brigade  with  the  companies  of  cavalry  in 
his  brigade,  were  in  readiness  at  Worcester  the  same  morning 
to  continue  the  escort  to  the  confines  of  tlie  county,  at  the  de- 
parture of  the  illustrious  guest  from  our  midst. 

General  Lafayette,  with  his  son,  George  Washington  Lafayette,  and  suite, 
left  Boston  about  two  o'clock  on  Thursday  afternoon,  Sept.  3,  1824,  accom- 
panied by  Cols.  Samuel  D.  Harris  and  John  Everett  of  Gov.  Eusti.s'  staff. 
They  passed  through  Lexington  and  Concord,  spending  about  an  hour  in  each 
jilace  receiving  the  congratulations  of  the  citizens  and  indulging  in  the  recol- 
lections which  those  places  so  noted  in  the  revolution,  excited  in  their  minds. 
At  Concord,  Lafayette  was  welcomed,  in  behalf  of  the  citizens,  with  an  ad- 
dress by  Hon.  Samuel  Hoar,  (father  of  Hon.  E.  11.  and  Hon.  Geo.  F.  Hoar,) 
in  a  magnificent  arbor  erected  for  the  purpose. 

Lafayette's  Reception  at   Boltox. 

He  arrived  between  8  and  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  at  the  line  of  this  coun- 
ty, in  Bolton,  where  the  party  were  received  by  the  escort  of  cavalry  and  a 
large  cavalcade  of  military  officers,  in  full  dress  uniform,  in  waiting,  and 
were  conducted  by  them  to  the  hospitable  mansion  of  S.  V.  S.  Wilder,  Esq., 
at  which  place  the  nation's  distinguished  guest  was  sumptuously  entertain- 
ed. Mr.  Wilder,  who  was  an  ardent,  though  an  eccentric  2)atriut,  signalized 
his  devotion  by  erecting  over  the  entrance  to  his  mansion  an  arch  Avith  the 
following  ins3ription,  called  "  Wilder's  Trinity:"  "The  Great  Jehovah, 
Washington,  and  Lafayette."  This  place  was  reached  about  ten  o'clock  at 
night.  Here  Lafayette  was  met  by  a  deputation  from  the  committee  of  ar- 
rangements of  Worcester,  consisting  of  F.  W.  Paine  and  others,  and  notified 
by  them  of  the  earnest  desire  of  the  citizens  of  this  town  to  pay  their  re- 
spects and  acknowledge  their  obligations  to  the  early  friend  of  the  country, 
who  had  saved  her  in  tiie  war  that  established  our  independence.  At  the 
same  time  the  chairman  of  the  committee.    Judge  Levi  Lincoln,  through 


Rem'miscences  of  Worcester.  245 

this  deputation,  invited  the  distinguished  guest,  with  his  suite,  to  breakfast 
with  him  on  the  following  morning. 

Reception'  at    Lancaster. 

On  Friday  morning,  about  seven  o'clock,  after  a  brief  stop  for  repose  at 
Bolton,  Lafayette,  conducted  by  the  same  escort,  arrived  at  Lancaster,  where 
lie  was  greeted  by  the  citizens  of  that  ancient  town  with  a  salute  of  artillery, 
honored  with  an  arch  highly  decorated,  and  welcomed  with  an  address  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  to  which  he  made  a  pertinent  response. 

Reception  at  Sterling. 

The  party  proceeded  thence  through  Sterling,  where  Lafayette  was  re- 
ceived with  every  demonstration  of  joy,  his  approach  to  the  viilajxe  being 
hailed  with  thirteen  discharges  of  artillery,  and  the  ringing  of  bells.  He 
here  received  the  additional  escort  of  two  companies  of  light  infantry  under 
command  of  Capt  Caleb  Dana  of  Princeton,  (afterwards  of  Worcester,)  and 
Capt.  Merriam  of  Sterling.  The  General  was  received  at  the  entrance  of  the 
village  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town  under  a  spacious  arch  fancifully  de- 
corated with  flowers  and  evergreens,  appended  to  the  centre  of  which  were 
the  words  inscribed  in  gold  letters,  "  Welcome  Lafayette,  America's  Adopted 
Son,  Brother  and  Friend  of  AYashington." 

"  Our  land  in  trouble  found  a  friend  in  thee, 
We'll  not  forget  thee  in  prosperity."' 

lie  was  then  addressed  by  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen,  Isaac 
Goodwin,  Esq.,  (afterwards  of  Worcester,)  as  follows  : 

Address  of  Welcome  by  Isaac  Goodwin. 

"  Gen.  Lafayette: — The  selectmen,  in  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Sterling, 
welcome  your  arrival  at  their  village.  The  name  of  this  town  associates 
with  it  the  recollections  of  another  transatlantic  hero,  who,  like  yourself, 
sir,  felt  a  sympathy  from  father's  wrongs,  and  whose  sword  was  unsheathed 
for  their  redress.  Lord  Sterling,  the  gallant  and  the  generous,  now  sleeps 
in  dust,  but  the  memory  of  America's  beneftxctors  will  survive  the  decay  of 
time.  The  multitudes  that  hail  your  march  through  this  part  of  our  coun- 
try are  not  the  assemblages  of  idle  crowds,  seeking  to  gratify  a  morbid  curi- 
osity, but,  sir,  the  men  around  you  are  the  independent  possessors  of  their 
fields,  and  the  defenders  of  their  homes.  From  iioary  age  to  lisping  child- 
hood, our  whole  population  are  eager  in  contributing  deserved  honors  to  tlie 
companion  of  Washington,  the  benefactor  of  our  country,  and  the  friend  of 
mankind." 

Lafiiyette  responded,  in  substance,  as  follows  : 

"  I  feel  grateful  for  my  kind  reception  here.  I  rejoice  in  your  prosperity, 
and  am  happy  to  be  once  more  among  you.  The  name  of  your  place  recalls 
the  recollection  of  Lord  Sterling.  He  was  my  intimate  friend  as  well  as 
companion  in  arms.  I  venerate  his  memory,  and  when  at  New  York,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  his  family." 

The  General  then  reviewed  the  troops,  including  the  two  companies  of  light 
infantry,  a  company  of  militia  in  full  uniform  under  command  of  Capt.  Hol- 
comb,  and  a  company  of  artillery  under  command  of  Capt.  Maynard. 

Lafayette  then  proceeded  on  his  route  for  Worcester,  making  a  short  stop 
at  West  Boy Iston,  where  another  company  of  cavalry  under  command  of  Capt. 
James  F-;tabrook  was  added  to  the  escort,  and  he  arrived  at  the  northern 
limits  of  the  town  about  half-past  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  where  he  was  received 
with  a  general  burst  of  joy  from  a  large  number  of  citizens.  Here  the  com- 
juittee  of  arrano-ements  in  coaches,  and  the  Hon.  Judgre  Lincoln,  their  chair- 


246  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

man,  in  a  barouche  drawn  by  four  beautiful  grey  horses,  waited  his  arrival. 
AVhen  the  cheering  had  subsided,  Judge  Lincoln  invited  the  General  to  take 
a  seat  with  him  in  the  carriage,  provided  by  the  town.  The  procession  then 
moved  in  the  following  order,  under  the  direction  of  ten  marshals,  preceded 
by  the  military  escort,  including  two  companies  of  cavalry  :  Committee  of 
arrangements  in  carriages  ;  Gen.  Lafayette  and  Judge  Lincoln  in  a  banmche  ; 
Lafayette's  son,  and  suite  ;  cavalcade  of  officers  of  the  militia  of  the  sixth 
division,  in  full  dress  ;  cavalcade  of  citizens. 

When  the  tavern  then  kept  by  Leonard  Clark,  on  the  west  side  of  Belmont 
street,  opposite  Adams  Square,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Lincoln  Square, 
was  reached,  the  escort  was  joined  by  a  regiment  of  light  troops,  under  c  )m- 
mand  of  Lieut.  Col.  Samuel  Ward  who  had  turned  out  to  honor  the  occasion, 
and  added  much  to  the  splendor  of  the  scene.  At  this  place  the  road  be- 
came much  thronged  with  people,  impatient  to  greet  the  distinguished  guest 
with  a  hearty  welcome,  commingled  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  When  the 
procession  reached  the  declivity  near  "  The  Oaks"  Paine  mansion,  then  oc- 
cupied by  Dr.  William  Paine  and  his  son,  Frederick  William,  it  passed 
under  a  number  of  flags  tastefully  arranged,  when  a  national  salute  was 
fired,  and  the  bells  commenced  ringing  a  merry  peal.  The  concourse  of 
people  now  became  very  great,  and  the  cheerings  and  tokens  of  welcome 
almost  continual,  and  the  scene  impressive  beyond  description.  The  grey 
headed  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  in  their  impatience  to  salute  their  old 
companion  in  arms,  seemed  to  forget  their  infirmities  and  to  banish  all  cer- 
emony. They  pressed  up  to  the  barouche  as  it  passed  along,  and  extend- 
ed their  arms  to  embrace  the  object  of  their  affection.  The  veteran  him- 
self seemed  deeply  moved  by  these  spontaneous  demonstrations  of  gratitude 
and  respect,  and  shook  many  of  his  old  soldiers  by  the  hand  as  he  passed 
along.  After  crossing  the  bridge,  [at  Lincoln  Square,]  the  procession 
passed  through  the  then  middle  street,  upon  Court  Hill,  over  which  had 
been  thrown  a  triumphal  arch,  so  tastefully  decorated  by  the  ladies  as  to 
excite  the  admiration  of  all  who  saw  it.  On  each  side  of  this  street  were 
ranged,  under  the  care  of  their  respective  teachers,  the  children  of 
the  schools,  ornamented  with  appropriate  badges,  who  threw  laurel  in 
his  path  as  he  passed.  There  was  no  spot  more  interesting  than  this. 
Children  whose  parents  had  not  existence  when  our  obligations  were  incur- 
red, were  taught  to  lisp  his  name  with  reverence,  and  to  assoicate  with  it 
our  proudest  thoughts  of  national  glory ;  and  here  could  our  nation's  bene- 
factor find  the  best  evidence  that  his  labors  had  not  been  in  vain,  since  even 
infancy  was  instructed  to  blend  the  thought  of  liberty,  and  the  independence 
of  our  country,  with  the  names  of  AVashington  and  Lafayette. 

The  Scene  on  Main  Street. 

Near  the  Worcester  Bank  [then  in  the  old  Central  Exchange]  the  proces- 
sion passed  under  several  flags  extended  across  the  street,  from  one  of  which 
was  suspended  the  following  motto  :  "  Hitherto  I  have  only  cherished  your 
cause,  now  I  go  to  serve  it."  This  was  the  reply  made  by  Gen.  Lafayette 
when  the  American  commissioners  endeavored  to  dissuade  him  from  embark- 
ing in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  because  the  gloomy  aspect  of  affairs  at  that 
time  (1776)  almost  destroyed  the  hope  of  final  success.  Underneath  was 
inscribed  :     "  Brandywine,  Jamestown,  Valley  Forge,  Yorktown." 

Exercises  in  Front  of  the  Lincoln  Mansion. 

Soon  afterwards,  Lafayette,  amidst  cheers  and  welcomes,  uttered  by  thou- 
sands pressing  around  him,  alighted  at  the  gate  of  the  spacious  mansion 
house  of  Judge  Lincoln,  whicii  had  been  thrown  open  for  such  ladies  as 
chose  to  avail  themseives  of  his  hospitality  to  see  the  hero.     Here  language 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  247 

fails  to  do  justice  to  the  scene.  Each  individual  of  a  vast  multitude  seemed 
anxious  to' proclaim  a  hearty  welcome  to  him  who  "  not  for  the  fading  echoes 
of  renown  or  purple  robe  of  power,"  left  a  home  where  he  was  rich  in  every 
thing  that  endears  life  to  man  to  prop  the  sinking  fortunes  of  our  country. 
The  gate  and  portico  were  decorated  with  evergreens  and  flags,  and  the  win- 
dows even  to  the  upper  story  were  crowded  with  ladies  greeting  his  ap- 
proach with  smiles  and  tears,  while  their  hankerchiefs  waved  in  token  of 
welcome.  Take  it  altogether  the  effect  was  such  as  must  be  seen  and  felt  to 
be  realized. 

The  General  was  introduced  to  the  committee  near  the  entrance  of  the 
house,  when  their  chairman,  Judge  Lincoln,  delivered  in  an  animated  and 
impressive  manner  the  following  address  : 

Welcoming  Address  to  Lafayette  by  Hon.    Levi   Lincoln. 

*'  Gen.  Lafayette: — The  citizens  Avhom  you  see  assembled  around  you, 
have  spontaneously  thronged  together,  to  offer  you  the  tribute  of  their  af- 
fection, their  respect,  their  gratitude.  In  the  name  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Worcester,  the  shire  of  an  extensive  county  of  more  than  75,000  population  ; 
in  behalf  of  all  who  are  present,  and  in  anticipation  of  the  commands  of 
those  whom  distance  and  want  of  opportunity  occasion  to  be  absent  from  the 
joyous  scene,  I  repeat  to  you  the  salutations,  which  elsewhere  have  been  so 
impressively  offered  upon  your  arrival  in  this  country,  and  your  visit  to  this 
Commonwealth.  Welcome,  most  cordially  welcome,  to  the  presence  of 
those  who  now  greet  you  ! 

Your  name,  sir,  is  not  only  associated  with  the  memorable  events  of  the 
revolution,  with  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  the  retreat  from  Valley  Forge,  the 
affair  near  Jamestown,  and  the  triumph  at  Yorktown,  but  the  memorials  of 
your  services,  and  our  obligations,  exist  in  the  independence  of  the  nation 
which  was  accomplished  in  the  government  of  the  people,  which  is  establish- 
ed in  the  institutions  and  laws,  the  arts,  improvements,  liberty  and  happi- 
ness which  are  enjoyed.  The  sword  was  beaten  into  the  plowshare  to  cul- 
tivate the  soil  which  its  temper  had  previously  defended,  and  the  hill-tops 
shall  now  echo  to  the  sea-shore  the  gratulations  of  the  independent  propri- 
etors of  the  laud  to  the  common  benefactor  of  all  ranks  and  classes  of  the 
people. 

Wherever  you  go.  General,  the  acclamations  of  freemen  await  you — their 
blessings  and  prayers  will  follow  you.  May  you  live  many  years  to  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  the  services  and  S5icrifices,  the  gallantry  and  valor  of  your  earlier 
days  devoted  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  the  rights  of  man  ;  and  may  the 
bright  examples  of  individual  glory  and  of  national  happiness,  which  the  his- 
tory of  America  exhibits,  illustrate  to  the  world  the  moral  force  of  personal 
virtue,  and  the  rich  blessings  of  civil  liberty  in  a  republican  government," 

To  this  the  general  made  a  pertinent  and  affectionate  reply,  the  substance 
of  which  is  as  follows  ;  though  neither  the  expressions  nor  the  arrangement 
of  topics  is  recollected,  nor  does  this  pretend  to  do  justice  to  what  was  actual- 
ly uttered : 

Lafayette's  Response. 

He  said  that  "  he  received  with  much  sensibility  the  expressions  of  kind  at- 
tention with  which  he  was  receivedby  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  county 
of  Worcester — that  he  was  delighted  with  the  fine  country  which  he  had  seen, 
and  the  excellent  improvement  and  cultivation  which  he  had  witnessed — that 
he  saw  the  best  proofs  of  a  great,  prosperous  and  happy  people,  in  the  rapid 
advancement  of  the  polite  and  useful  arts,  and  in  the  stability  of  our  free 
institutions — that  he  was  especially  much  gratified  in  the  great  improve- 
ments of  the  face  of  the  country,  because  he  was  himself  a  farmer — that  he 


248  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

felt  happy  to  observe  such  decided  proofs  of  industry,  sobriety  and  prosper- 
ity. He  begged  the  citizens  to  ))e  assured  of  his  affectionate  and  grateful 
l-e"collection  ot  their  reception  of  him.  He  thanked  them  for  all  they  had 
manifested  towards  him,  for  the  kind  expressions  "vvhich  had  been  offered 
him  by  the  committee,  and  in  a  feeling,  impressive  manner  reciprocated  their 
good  wishes." 

Exercises  in  the  Lincoln  Mansion. 

Lafayette  then  entered  the  house,  where  a  breakfast  awaited  him,  doing 
equal  honor  to  the  known  hospitality  of  our  distinguished  townsman,  and  to 
the  taste  of  his  lady.  After  partaking  of  this,  he  mingled  with  the  citizens, 
appearing  to  participate  deeply  in  the  interest  of  the  day,  and  received,  in 
rapid  succession,  the  congratulations  of  vast  numbers  ;  but  was  at  length 
constrained  to  decline  further  introductions  for  want  of  time  ;  many,  there- 
fore, went  away  regretting  that  they  had  no  opportunity  to  pay  their  respects 
to  him. 

About  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  Lafayette  took  a  station  at  the  gate  near  the 
street,  and  tlie  troops  marched  in  review  before  him.  With  their  appear- 
ance and  deportment  he  expressed  great  satisfaction,  their  appearance  and 
equipment  not  being  excelled  by  any  body  of  militia  in  the  United  States. 

Lafayette  then  entered  his  coach  amid  the  loud  and  reiterated  cheering  of 
the  citizens,  and  was  accompanied  by  the  committee  about  four  miles  on  his 
way  to  New  York,  where  they  took  their  leave  of  him. 

His  dress  was  plain,  his  manners  simple  and  prepossessing,  his  language 
good,  though  strongly  marked  with  foreign  accent.  Speaking  of  the  atten- 
tions he  received,  he  said  :  "  It  is  the  homage  you  pay  to  the  principles  of 
your  government,  and  not  to  me." 

Lafayette's  Reception   at   Rochdale. 

When  the  party  arrived  at  Rochdale,  they  were  met  by  a  large  procession 
of  citizens,  headed  by  Capt.  Howe,  who  escorted  him  to  the  front  of  Hezekiah 
Stone's  tavern,  where  an  address  of  welcome  was  made  in  behalf  of  the  citi- 
zens of  that  village,  by  Rev.  Joseph  Muenscher  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  to 
which  an  appropriate  response  was  made  by  Lafayette. 

Reception  at  Charlton   North   Side. 

The  next  place  where  a  demonstration  was  made,  was  at  Charlton  North 
Side,  a  lew  miles  further,  where  Lafayette  was  desirous  of  stopping  to  have 
an  interview  with  an  old  comrade  who  served  under  him,  Lieut.  Dunbar, 
who  came  out  from  the  crowd,  and  a  greeting  of  the  most  cordial  character 
on  both  sides  took  place. 

Of  the  officers  of  the  sixth  division  of  the  Massachusetts 
militia,  who  took  part  in  the  escort  services  to  Lafiiyette  on  this 
occasion,  nearly  fifty-three  years  ago,  but  very  few  now  survive. 
Among  the  few  survivors  is  our  venerable  fellow-citizen,  Gen. 
Nathan  Heard,  then  commanding  the  lirst  brigade,  and  after- 
wards commander  of  the  division,  who  is  now  in  his  88th  year, 
and  looks  back  with  particular  delight  upon  the  events  of  these 
times  in  which  he  paruci})ated.  His  aide  de  camp  on  this  oc- 
casion was  tlie  late  Ex-Gov.  Emory  Washburn,  then  of  Leicester. 
They  accompanied  Lafayette  as  far  as  Sturbridge,  on  the  route 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  249 

through  New  Worcester,  Clappville,  (now  Rochdale,)  and  Staf- 
ford Springs,  Ct.,  over  the  old  Stafford  turnpike,  to  New  York. 
Before  parting  with  tlie  distinguished  guest  in  his  charge,  Gen. 
Heard  received  personally  from  Lafayette  his  cordial  thanks 
for  the  many  courtesies  extended  to  him  hy  the  escort. 

Another  survivor  of  this  old  sixth  division  of  the  Massachu- 
setts militia,  who  had  the  honor  of  participating  in  the  escort 
to  Lafayette  on  that  occasion,  is  Hon.  Ebenezer  Torry  of  Fitch- 
burg,  who  was  aide  de  camp  to  Maj.  Gen.  Jewett,  commander 
of  the  division. 

Lafayette's  Second  Visit   to    Worcester  in  1825. 

Lafayette's  second  visit  to  Worcester  was  made  June  15, 
1825,  when  he  passed  through  here  from  Albany  on  his  way  to 
Boston,  to  assist  in  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  Bunker  Hill 
monument,  travelino;  day  and  night  from  the  west,  by  rapid 
stage  coaches,  with  frequent  change  of  horses,  in  order  to  be 
on  hand  in  season  to  participate  in  those  august  ceremonies. 
He  rode  from  Rice's  Hotel  in  Brookfield,  in  a  coach  driven  by 
a  veteran  knight  of  the  whip,  Samuel  D.  Phelps,  recently  de- 
ceased, who  was  a  stage  driver  over  fifty  years  ago  for  Maj. 
Simeon  Burt,  the  successor  of  Col.  Reuben  Sikes  as  proprietor 
of  the  stage  lines,  then  passing  tlirough  Worcester.  Lafayette 
was  accompanied  by  his  son,  George  Washington  Lafayette, 
and  his  private  secretary,  Levasseur.  They  arrived  in  Wor- 
cester about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  June  15.  La- 
fayette and  suite  took  a  brief  repose  and  breakfasted  at 
the  old  Exchange  Hotel,  then  called  the  "  Exchange  Coffee 
House,"  and  proceeded  early  in  the  forenoon  tj  Boston,  where 
they  arrived  before  night,  stopping  at  the  residence  of  U.  S. 
Senator,  James  Lloyd.  The  next  day  began  a  series  of  grand 
demonstrations  in  honor  of  Lafayette,  in  Boston,  including  the 
celebration  of  June  17,  when  the  stone  corner  of  Bunker  Hill 
monument  was  laid,  amid  ceremonies  of  the  most  imposing 
character,  in  presence  of  the  nation's  distinguished  guest.  La- 
fayette left  the  following  week  for  New  York,  by  way  of  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont,  reaching  Concord,  N.  H.,  June  24, 
and  Albany,  July  1. 
32 


WORCESTER  AND  ITS  ANCIENT  DWELLINGS. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


Original  Boundaries. 


The  original  sliape  of  the  township  of  Worcester,  as  first  laid 
out,  and  according  to  the  re-survey  taken  at  the  beginning  of 
the  second  attempt  at  settlement  in  1G84,  was  that  of  a  paral- 
lelogram, with  the  two  longest  sides,  running  N.  12  ^  W. 
3760  rods,  or  about  11  3-4  miles,  and  the  two  ends  each  1920 
rods,  or  about  six  miles,  running  E.  32  ^  N.,  forming  an  obtuse 
angle  at  the  north-west  and  south-east  corners  of  110  ®  ,  and  an 
acute  angle  at  the  other  two  corners  of  70  ^  .  This  constituted 
an  amount  of  territory  a  trifle  o\-er  eight  miles  square,  or  six- 
ty-four square  miles,  equal  to  42,000  acres.  Of  this  tract,  a 
strip  a  little  over  five  miles  in  wddth  was  cut  off  from  the  north- 
ern end  in  1740  to  constitute  Holden,  and  2250  acres  were  ta- 
ken out  of  the  south-west  corner  in  1778,  (as  indicated  on  the 
accompanying  map,)  to  constitute  the  north-east  section  of  the 
town  of  Ward,  (now  Auburn,)  then  incorporated.  By  a  leg- 
lative  act  of  June  14,  1785,  the  gore  of  land,  (called  Oxford 
gore,)  then  lying  between  the  towns  of  Worcester  and  Sutton, 
was  added  to  Worcester  ;  this  extended  the  southern  boundary 
of  Worcester  toward  what  is  now  Millbury  (incorporated  in 
1818)  about  ten  degrees  from  a  point  on  the  western  boundary 
of  Auburn,  to  a  point  in  what  was  then  Grafton  gore,  south  of 
Lake  Quinsigamond.  By  another  legislative  act  of  March  22, 
1838,  "  that  tract  of  incorporated  land,  called  Grafton  gore, 
bounded  west  by  Worcester,  south  by  Millbury,  east  by  Grafton 
and  north  by  Shrewsbury,"  was  "  annexed  to  and  made  part  of 
the  town  of  Worcester."  This  extended  the  territory  of  Worces- 
ter to  the  limit  it  now  presents  in  that  direction,  on  the  map 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  251 

Worcester  in  1750. 
The  central  village  of  Worcester,  according  to  the  best  de- 
scription which  can  be  given  of  it  in  1750,  must  have  then 
presented  a  very  scattered  appearance,  the  houses  being  "  few 
and  far  between."  One  gentleman  of  remarkably  tenacious 
memory,  who  died  at  a  great  age  in  1834,  and  whose  recollec- 
tion went  back  to  this  early  period,  used  to  say  he  could  re- 
member when  there  was  but  one  house  on  Front  street,  (the 
Palmer  Goulding  house,  just  east  of  the  Common,  see  page  49  ;) 
and  but  seven  on  Main  street  between  tlie  jail  bridge,  then  so 
called,  at  Lincoln  Square,  and  the  (Old  South)  meeting-house, 
and  none  on  Summer  street  or  any  of  the  streets  running  be- 
tween Main  and  Summer,  none  of  those  streets  being  laid  out  till 
lon^r  afterwards.  Of  those  seven  houses  on  Main  street,  one  was 
the  Judge  Chandler  house,  located  on  the  site  of  Clark's 
Block,  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  streets,  (al- 
luded to  on  pages  20  and  21)  ;  another  was  the  .Daniel  Hey- 
wood  tavern,  (where  the  Bay  State  House  now  stands,  (see 
page  26  ;)  the  next  building  north  of  the  latter  on  the  east  side 
of  Main  street  was  the  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow  house,  (see  page 
46.)  On  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  the  next  building  south 
of  the  old  Court  House  was  the  Judge  Wm.  Jennison 
(afterwards  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske)  dwelling,  (see  page  57)  ; 
the  next  house  south  was  one  standing  near  the  site  of  the 
present  Calvinist  Church,  (probably  the  Nathan  Baldwin  house, 
afterwards  the  Wm.  Eaton  house,  alluded  to  on  page  41)  ;  the 
next  was  Thomas  Stearns'  tavern,  afterwards  known  as  the 
"  King's  Arms,"  (see  page  57)  ;  the  next  was  a  dwelling 
standing  near  where  Pearl  street  now  is.  In  addition  to  the 
above,  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  streets 
stood  the  parsonage  house  of  Rev.  Isaac  Burr,  then  owned  by 
Dr.  Samuel  Breck  ;  south  of  the  latter  was  the  Daniel  Ward 
house  sold  in  1750  to  Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler,  (see  page 
21,)  just  south  of  which  the  latter  erected  his  elegant  mansion, 
the  last  owner  and  occupant  of  which  previous  to  its  demolition 
and  the  sale  of  the  estate  to  R.  C.  Taylor  in  1870,  was  the  late 
Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton.  The  old  one  story  "  Compound"  build- 
ing, used  by  the  Chandlers  for  a  store  and  office,  stood  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Front  street. 


252  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Ponds,  Streams,  &c. 

Blackstone  river,  forty  miles  long,  from  AVorcester  to  Prov- 
idence, upon  whose  banks  probably  more  manufacturing  is 
done  than  upon  any  other  stream  of  equal  size  in  the  country, 
has  several  sources  or  head  waters  of  supply  in  Worcester  and 
vicinity,  the  largest  of  which  are  Kettle  Brook,  Tatnuck  and 
Beaver  Brooks,  Mill  Brook,  and  Ramshorn  Brook  from  Millbury. 
The  largest  of  these,  Kettle  Brook,  originates  in  Paxton,  and 
passing  through  the  easterly  part  of  Leicester  and  the  south- 
west part  of  Worcester,  into  Auburn,  it  there  joins  the  waters 
from  Ramshorn  Pond  in  Millbury,  the  united  stream,  called  by 
the  Indians  Pakachoag  Brook,  (or  Boggachoag  Brook,)  flow- 
ing north  through  Stone ville  and  Trowbridgeville  to  New  Wor- 
cester. Here  it  receives  the  waters  of  Tatnuck  Brook  and  of 
Beaver  Brook,  both  coming  from  Holden,  and  after  their  junc- 
tion, the  united  waters,  called  on  the  ancient  records  Half- 
Way  River,  (from  its  being  considered,  on  the  old  route  of  trav- 
el, a3  located  half  way  between  Boston  and  the  Connecticut 
river,)  flow  easterly  a  little  over  a  mile  across  Raccoon  Plain  to 
Soutii  Worcester,  where  junction  is  made  with  the  stream 
coming  from  the  north  called  on  the  old  records  usually  Mill 
Brook,  and  sometimes,  though  rarely,  Bimelech.  This  latter 
stream,  (which  is  but  a  continuation  of  Weasel  Brook,  in  two 
branches,  from  West  Boylston,)  uniting  with  the  waters  from 
North  Pond,  near  Northville,  flows  south  through  the  heart  of 
the  city,  receiving  the  waters  of  Paine  Brook  just  above  Lincoln 
Square,  and  of  Hermitage  or  Bear  Brook  just  after  the  latter 
crosses  Summer  street  between  School  and  Thomas  streets.* 
Another  tributary  of  Mill  Brook  is  Pine  Meadow  Brook,  from 
the  east  side  of  Bell  Pond  on  Chandler  Hill,  whicli  flows  across 
Pine  Meadow  (now  East  Worcester,)  crossing  Grafton  street 
near  the  Providence  and  Water  streets,  and  entering  what  used 
to  be  called  Flagg  (afterwards  Fox)  mill  pond,  now  merged  in 
the  general  sewer. 

A  stream  called  North  Pond  Brook,  enters  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  pond,  from  Holden,  in  two  branches. 

*  The  beds  of  these  and  several  other  streams  are  now  incorporated  with  the 
sewers  in  the  central  sections  of  the  city. 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  253 

A  small  tributary  of  Kettle  Brook  is  Parsons'  Brook,  having 
its  rise  just  east  of  Lynde  Brook  reservoir  in  Leicester,  and 
flowing  south  to  Jamesville. 

A  little  stream  called  Lincoln  Brook,  having  its  rise  near  the 
Common,  or  Elm  Park,  enters  Beaver  Brook  between  Chandler 
and  May  streets. 

From  the  union  of  all  these  streams  at  South  Worcester,  the 
waters  take  the  name  of  Blackstone  river,  to  Providence. 

The  largest  body  of  water,  and  only  natural  pond  of  any  size 
entirely  within  the  limits  of  Worcester,  is  North  Pond,  wiiicli 
originally  covered  but  thirty  acres,  now  increased  to  228  acres 
by  the  erection  of  artificial  dams,  making  it  the  summit  re- 
servoir of  the  waters  used  by  so  many  manufacturing  establish- 
ments below.  Salisbury's  pond,  Coes'  and  Curtis'  ponds  at 
New  Worcester,  and  those  at  Jamesville,  Tatnuck,  Trowbridge- 
ville  and  Quinsigamond  Village  have  been  made  so  for  me- 
chanical purposes.  Lake  Quinsigamond,  or  Long  Pond,  four 
miles  in  length  between  Worcester  and  Shrewsbury,  extending 
all  the  way  from  Grafton  on  the  south  to  West  Boylston  at  the 
North,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  having  within  its  borders  ten 
small  islands,  was  originally  mostly  within  the  limits  of  Shrews- 
bury, but  about  fifty  years  ago  a  new  boundary  line  between 
Worcester  and  Shrewsbury  was  located,  from  its  northern  ter- 
minus, making  all  of  the  then  floating  bridge,  (answering  to 
the  present  causway,)  as  well  as  the  larger  portion  of  the  north- 
ern half  of  the  pond,  and  a  small  portion  of  the  southern  half, 
come  within  the  limits  of  Worcester. 

Bladder  Pond,  or  Bell  Pond,  is  a  small  natural  reservoir  on 
the  north-east  side  of  Chandler  Hill,  originally  covering  about 
five  acres,  increased  to  eight  acres  by  being  made  the  reservoir 
of  tlie  Worcester  Aqueduct  Company  organized  in  1845,  the 
first  measure  for  the  supply  of  the  inhabitants  with  water  at 
their  dwellings.  This  pond  has  a  storing  capacity  of  30,000,000 
gallons,  and  North  Pond  of  656,000,000  gallons. 

The  most  elevated  of  the  hills  in  the  central  section  of  the 
city  is  Green  hill  at  the  north-east,  rising  777  feet;  the  next 
highest,  Paine   hill,  751  ;  Sagatabscot  hill,  where   Digory  Ser- 


254  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

geant  and  Jonas  Rice  located,  721  feet;  Pakachoag  hill,  where 
Gershom  Rice,  the  first  Daniel  Bigelow  and  Ephraim  Curtis, 
Jr.,  located,  693  feet. 

Ancient  Dwellings  and  Their  Occupants. 

One  of  the  most  elegant  residences  in  Worcester  a  century 
and  more  ago,  was  the  celebrated  Hancock  mansion,  on  tlic 
west  side  of  Lincoln  street,  a  little  south  of  '*  The  Oaks"  Paine 
mansion.  This  was  the  property  of  Thomas  Hancock,  who,  on 
his  decease  in  1764,  willed  it  to  his  nephew,  Gov.  John  Han- 
cock, whose  devotion  to  the  patriotic  cause  during  the  revolu- 
tion made  him  the  peer  of  John  Adams.  Owing  to  his  numer- 
ous ofiScial  duties  elsewhere,  he  probably  never  made  the  house 
his  residence,  except  temporarily  during  the  summer  or  other 
vacations  from  public  labors.  For  many  years  previous  to  1781 , 
when  the  estate,  comprising  150  acres,  was  purchased  by  Gov. 
Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  this  house  was  occupied  by  Samuel  Wood- 
burn  as  a  fashionable  boarding-house  or  hotel  for  the  judges, 
officers,  jurymen  and  others  attending  the  courts,  during  court 
time.  This  was  before  the  Exchange  Hotel  was  opened.  Gov. 
Lincoln,  senior,  lived  in  this  house  nearly  thirty  years  till  his 
decease,  April  14,  1820,  aged  71.  The  old  mansion,  after  re- 
maining several  years  in  possession  of  the  family,  was  sold  in 
1846  to  David  S.  Messenger,  and  the  old  structure  was  then 
removed  to  its  present  location,  on  the  south  corner  of  Grove 
and  Lexington  streets.  The  elegant  residence  of  Philip  L. 
Moen,  (formerly  of  the  late  Wm.  A.  Wheeler,)  built  in  1852, 
occupies  the  former  site  of  this  old  Lincoln  mansion  on  Lincoln 
street. 

On  the  north  side  of  Lincoln  Square  still  stands  on  its  origin- 
al site,  and  presenting  almost  the  same  general  appearance  as 
it  did  one  hundred  years  ago,  the  ancient  Salisbury  mansion, 
erected  in  1770  by  the  elder  Stephen  Salisbury,  who  officiated 
on  various  town  committees  in  the  revolutionary  cause.  He 
came  to  Worcester  from  Boston  in  1767,  and  boarded  for  three 
years  with  Hon.  Timothy  Paine  at  the  latter's  first  residence 
on  Lincoln  street,  just  north  of  the  "  Hancock  Arms"  tavern. 
He  kept  a  store  for  many  years  in  a  small  building  which  stood 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  255 

where  the  railroad  passenger  station  now  is,  but  afterwards^re- 
moved  his  store  business  to  the  east  side  of  his  residence.  He 
was  son  of  Nicholas  and  Martha  Salisbury  of  Boston,  and  died 
May  11, 1829,  aged  83.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Elizabeth  Tuckerman  of  Boston,  and  she  died  Oct. 
19,  1851,  aged  83.  Their  son,  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  whose 
first  wife  was  Rebecca  Scott,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  PhilaDean 
of  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  occupied  the  paternal  mansion  ^till  he 
built,  in  1836,  his  present  elegant  residence  on  Highland  street. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  July  24,  1843,  he  married 
Nancy  Hoard,  widow  of  Capt.  George  Lincoln,  who  died  Sept. 
4,  1852  ;  and  for  his  third  wife  Mary  Grosvenor,  widow  of  Hon. 
Edward  D.  Bangs,  who  deceased  Sept.  25,  1864.  His  only  son, 
(Stephen  Salisbury,  Jr.,)  is  by  his  first  wife.  Hon.  Stephen 
Salisbury  has  been  President  of  the  old  Worcester  Bank  since 
the  death  of  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo  in  1845 ;  of  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society  since  the  death  of  Gov.  John  Davis  in 
1854  ;  and  of  the  Institute  of  Industrial  Science  since  its  or- 
ganization in  1866. 

On  the  east  side  of  Lincoln  Square  stands  an  old  edifice  of 
large  dimensions,  for  many  years  occupied  as  a  hotel.  When 
the  elder  Daniel  Waldo  came  to  Worcester  from  Lancaster,  in 
1782,  with  his  son,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  it,  and  erected 
the  first  brick  building  in  Worcester,  for  his  store,  on  the  same 
spot  which  has  been  occupied  by  his  son's  apprentice  and  suc- 
cessor, Henry  W.  Miller,  for  fifty-six  years.  Mr.  Waldo, 
senior,  died  Dec.  8,  1808,  aged  84,  and  his  son,  Daniel  Waldo, 
Jr.,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  his  store  business  as  well  as 
president  of  the  old  Worcester  Bank,  resided  in  the  old  dwell- 
ing east  of  Lincoln  Square  until  he  erected,  in  1806,  the  first 
brick  building  for  the  use  of  the  bank  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Central  Exchange,  residing  himself  in  one  portion  of  it  until 
he  built,  in  1828,  his  last  elegant  mansion,  (the  front  portion 
of  the  present  Waldo  House,)  which,  previous  to  1854,  oc- 
cupied the  site  of  Meclianics  Hall.  Mr.  Waldo's  former  re- 
sidence at  Lincoln  Square  was  afterwards  occupied  for  a  short 
time  by  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  while  the  latter  was  erecting  his 
brick  mansion,  (afterwards  the  Lincoln  House,)  corner  of  Main 


256  Reminiscences  of    Worcesfe7\ 

and  Elm  streets.  The  Waldo  house  east  of  Lincohi  Square  was 
occupied  as  a  hotel,  from  1814  to  1818,  by  Capt.  Peter  Slater  ; 
from  that  time  to  1823  by  Benjamin  Howard,  succeeded  by 
Capt.  Joseph  Lovell,  Harmon  Chamberlin,  Nathaniel  Powers, 
John  Fessenden  and  Nathaniel  Stearns,  under  the  name  of 
the  "  Lincoln  Square  Hotel,"  for  many  years,  and  by  other 
parties  afterwards  as  the  "  Nashua  Hotel."  The  old  house  was 
probably  the  residence  of  one  of  the  Chandlers  before  the  re- 
volution. 

On  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Lincoln  Square,  opposite 
the  Court  House,  stood,  from  1749  to  1830,  the  ancient  yellow 
building  now  fronting  the  jail  grounds  on  Prospect  street, 
which  was  occupied  successively  as  a  dwelling  by  Samuel  An- 
drews, his  son-in-law.  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  and  the  latter's 
son-in-law.  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  (see  page  46.)  The  proper- 
ty, including  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  rear,  has  since  been 
owned  by  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  who  has  built  very  exten- 
sively thereon. 

Next  south  of  the  preceding  estate,  on  the  site  of  Bangs 
Block,  erected  by  David  S.  Messenger  in  1854,  were  previous 
to  that  date  two  ancient  dwellings  now  standing  in  the  rear, 
the  northernmost  one  of  which  was  the  residence  of  Judge  Ed- 
ward Bangs,  and  afterwards  of  his  son,  Hon.  Edward  D,  Bangs, 
before  spoken  of;  and  tlie  other  house  next  south  of  it  was  the 
residence  of  the  widow  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Grosvenor,  minister 
at  Plarvard  till  1788,  who  came  to  Worcester  with  her  children 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  her  daughter  Mary  being  after- 
wards the  wife  of  Hon.  Edward  D.  Bangs. 

This  estate  previously  belonged  to  Joseph  Lynde,  born  in 
Charlestown.  Jan.  7,  1703,  who  married  Mary  Lemmon,  Feb. 
24,  1736,  and  after  its  destruction  by  the  British  in  1775, 
came  to  Worcester  with  his  family,  and  resided  here  till  his  de- 
cease, in  one  of  these  two  dwellings.  His  son.  Dr.  Joseph 
Lynde,  born  in  Charlestown,  Feb.  8,  1749,  began  practice  in 
Worcester  m  1775,  superintended  the  hospital  for  the  small 
pox,  and  was  for  a  while  connected  here  in  business  as  an  apoth- 
ecary with  his  brother-in-law.  Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  and  afterwards 
established  himself  as  a  druggist  in   Hartford,  Ct.,  where  he 


Remmiscences  of    Woi^cesier.  257 

died  Jan.  15, 1829,  aged  80.  Four  of  his  sisters,  (daughters  of 
Joseph  Ljnde,  senior,)  married  in  Worcester  :  1,  Sarah,  born 
Feb.  21,  1748,  married  Andrew  Duncan  ;  2,  Dorothy,  born  May 
23,  174G,  married  Oct.  1,  1771,  Dr.  Elijah  Dix  ;  3,  Elizabeth, 
born  Oct.  1,  1756,  married  April  4,  1790,  Theophilus  Wheeler, 
register  of  deeds,  and  died  March  7,  1833  ;  4,  Hannah,  born 
July  4,  1760,  married  Sept.  18,  1788,  Hon.  Edward  D.  Bangs, 
and  died  Sept.  10, 1806.  Jose{)h  Lynde,  senior,  was  thus  great- 
grandfather of  Messrs.  Clarendon  Harris  and  Henry  M.  Wheel- 
er of  the  State  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  this  city. 
These  Lyndes  were  relatives  or  descendants  of  John  Lynde, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Leicester  in  1721,  from  whom 
Lynde  brook  is  named. 

Adjoining  the  Lynde  estate  on  the  south  is  the  old  Wheeler 
estate,  on  which  are  two  ancient  houses,  built  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Wheeler,  register  of  probate  from  1776  to  his  death,  Feb.  10, 
1793.  Mr.  Wheeler  came  here  before  the  revolution  from  Har- 
vard, Avhere  he  had  been  for  nine  years  settled  pastor,  bringing 
with  him  from  that  place  a  portion  of  the  lumber  for  his  first 
dwelUng  in  Worcester,  occupied  by  himself  and  his  descendants 
for  a  store,  after  he  had  built  his  last  residence  standing  south 
of  it,  which  latter  has  been  in  possession  and  occupancy  of  the 
family  for  five  generations.  Theophilus  Wheelero  who  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler,  as  register  of  probate 
for  forty-three  years  till  1836,  resided  in  this  second  mansion, 
(which  presents  almost  the  same  appearance  as  it  did  nearly 
one  hundred  years  ago,)  as  did  also  his  son,  Daniel  G.  and 
grandson,  Henry,  who  kept  store  in  the  former  structure,  now 
owned  by  A.  M.  Eaton.  Daniel  G.  Wheeler  purchased  (of  Na- 
than Patch)  in  1803  the  estate,  corner  of  Summer  and  Exchange 
streets,  where  his  daughters  still  reside.  His  purchase  extend- 
ed to  Mill  Brook  on  the  west  and  to  Bridge  street  south. 

Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  son  of  James  Dix  of  Waltham,  studied  with 
Dr.  John  Green,  senior,  began  practice  here  about  1768,  and 
was  in  active  business  as  a  physician  and  druggist  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  during  a  portion  of  the  time  in  company 
with  Dr.  Green.  He  married  a  sister  of  Dr.  Joseph  Lynde, 
and  his  daughter  married  Rev.  Dr.  Thaddeus  Mason  Harris, 
33 


258  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

before  spoken  of.  He  resided  on  the  estate  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  street,  behind  two  magnificent  elm  trees,  (now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Samuel  Davis,)  next  south  of  the  old  Judge 
Jennison  and  Dr.  Fiske  estate,  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Harrison  Bliss.  Dr.  Dix  died  in  Dixmont,  Me.,  June  7,  1809. 
His  dwelling  here,  built  more  than  a  century  ago,  is  noted  as 
having  been  the  residence  of  the  family  of  Gen.  Joseph  War- 
ren, during  the  occupancy  of  Boston  by  the  Britisli,  in  revolu- 
tionary times. 

Next  south  of  the  Dr.  Dix  mansion  was  a  two  story  building 
(now  standing  on  the  east  side  of  Prescott  street,  o[)posite  the 
Eural  Cemetery,)  which  was  originally  occupied  by  Dr.  Dix 
for  his  apothecary  store,  but  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by 
Dea.  Jeremiah  Robinson,  both  for  his  residence  and  store.  The 
name  "  Robinson  Place"  has  since  been  given  to  this  locality. 

On  the  site  occupied  by  the  block  of  stores  called  '•  Granite 
Row,"  erected  by  Daniel  Waldo  in  1832,  was  an  old  dwelling, 
now  standing  on  the  north  side  of  Thomas  street,  occupied  on 
its  original  site  by  Nathaniel  Mower,  hatter. 

The  old  dw^elling  wiiich  previously  occupied  the  site  of  the 
Calvinist  Church,  erected  in  1820,  stands  on  the  east  side  of 
Slater  Court,  leading  out  of  Thomas  street. 

South  of  the  Waldo  (now  Henry  W.  Miller)  store,  and  Calvin- 
ist Church,  still  stands  the  ancient  mansion  owned  and  occupied 
as  early  as  1760  by  Nathan  Baldwin,  and  after  his  death  in  1784 
by  his  son-in-law,  Nathaniel  Coolidge.  The  estate  Avas  pur- 
chased of  the  latter,  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  by  Hon. 
Wm.  Eaton,  father  of  the  present  owner  and  occupant.  Mr. 
Eaton  erected,  in  1828,  upon  the  north  side  of  his  estate,  the 
brick  building  now  owned  by  Dr.  Franklin  Barnard,  in  which 
the  Spy  office  was  located  from  1828  to  1837. 

South  of  the  Wm.  Eaton  estate,  corner  of  George  street,  was 
the  Benjamin  and  Enos  Tucker  estate,  and  south  of  the  latter, 
on  the  spot  afterwards  purchased  by  the  city  for  a  brick  school 
house,  and  next  north  of  the  old  "  Centre  District"  school 
house,  was  the  residence  of  Nathaniel  Eaton,  (brother  of  Wm. 
Eaton,)  before  he  purchased  the  Palmer  Goulding  house  on 
Front  street,  where  he  kept  a  hotel  until  his  death  in  1831. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  259 

Next  soiitli  of  the  old  "  Centre  School  House,"  was  the  Dr. 
John  Green  estate. 

Dr.  John  Green,  senior,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Green,  M.  D., 
founder  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Greenville,  Leicester,  came  to 
Worcester  about  1757,  when  he  was  21  years  old,  and  settled 
upon  the  old  homestead  on  Green  Hill,  east  of  Lincoln  street, 
still  in  possession  of  one  branch  of  his  descendants.  His  office 
and  apothecary  store,  and  that  of  his  son  and  grandson  of  the 
same  name,  was  in  a  little  wooden  building,  just  north  of  the 
brick  Green  mansion  erected  by  his  son,  (now  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  Dr.  L.  B.  Nichols.)  This  last  was  the  second  brick 
building  erected  in  the  town  of  Worcester,  being  built  about 
1790  by  the  second  Dr.  John  Green,  who  died  Aug.  11,  1808, 
at  the  early  age  of  45.  His  father  died  Oct.  29, 1799,  aged  63. 
After  the  death  of  the  third  Dr.  John  Green,  Oct.  17,  1865, 
aged  81,  who  occupied  his  father's  estate,  tlie  old  brick  man- 
sion w^as  purchased  by  Dr.  L.  B.  Nichols,  raised  up  one  story, 
and  a  French  roof  put  on. 

Next  south  of  the  Dr.  John  Green  estate  was  the  estate  of 
Samuel  Braser,  whose  store  was  originally  in  another  building 
just  south  of  his  residence  ;  and  next  south  of  the  latter  came 
the  estate  of  Enoch  and  Elisha  Flagg,  whose  bakery  was  also 
just  south  of  the  original  dwelling.  By  the  great  fire,  Feb.  18, 
1815,  the  buildings  of  the  Messrs.  Flagg  and  Brazer  were  burned, 
and  brick  structures  were  subsequently  erected  on  their  site. 
Mr.  Brazer  had  his  store  under  his  new  dwelling,  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  William  Dickinson,  who  purchased  the  Brazer 
estate  in  1848. 

Next  south  of  the  Flagg  estate,  came  tlie  residence  and  store 
of  Asa  Hamilton,  who  removed  in  1800  from  the  estate  beyond 
New  Worcester,  (now  owned  and  occupied  by  Solomon  Par- 
sons,) where  he  had  been  keeping  a  hotel.  He  kept  a  store 
for  over  thirty  years,  south  of  his  residence  on  Main  street,  op- 
posite Exchange  street,  (on  the  site  of  Goulding's  block,) 
for  the  last  few  years  of  that  time  in  company  with  his  son, 
Charles  A.  Hamilton,  afterwards  town  clerk,  cashier  of  the 
Quinsigamond  Bank,  and  treasurer  of  tlie  Worcester  County 
Institution   for    Savings   to  the  present  time. 


260  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Next  soiitli  of  tlie  latter,  and  near  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Walnut  streets,  was  an  old  building,  (removed  when  Boyden 
block  was  erected  on  its  site  in  1842,)  which  was  the  residence 
of  Nathaniel  Greene,  with  whom  John  Adams  boarded  the 
first  six  montlis  he  taught  school  in  Worcester,  (see  page  178.) 
William  Leggatc  afterwards  had  a  harness  shop  in  this  build- 
ing, and  subsequently  David  Roberts  a  hair  dresser's  shop. 

South  of  the  latter,  on  the  south  side  of  W^alnut  street,  were 
two  woolen  buildings,  removed  when  "  Paine  Building"  was 
erected  on  their  site  in  1832.  In  the  one  next  to  Walnut 
street,  Otis  Corbett  kept  a  jewelry  store  three  quarters  of  a 
century  ago,  succeeded  in  1822  by  the  late  Wm.  D.  Fenno, 
with  whom  Joseph  Boyden  and  Charles  W.  Rice  afterwards 
went  into  company.  In  the  other  building  next  south,  just 
north  of  the  site  of  Brinley  Block,  John  Milton  Earle  and 
Anthony  Chase  had  in  1820  a  boot  and  shoe  and  West  India  and 
domestic  goods  store. 

On  the  site  of  Brinley  Block  was  the  Nathaniel  Maccarty 
house,  a  very  ancient  structure,  since  removed  to  the  corner 
of  John  and  North  Ashhmd  streets.  Next  south  came  the 
old  "  King's  Arras"  tavern,  and  the  residence  of  Hon.  Joseph 
Allen,  which  latter  was  built  by  Col.  Daniel  Clapp  as  early  as 
1790,  and  sold  by  him  to  Mr.  Allen  about  1798,  Col.  Clapp  then 
removing  to  the  residence  he  afterwards  occupied  till  his  de- 
cease in  1827,  (on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Park  streets,)  subse- 
quently owned  and  occupied  by  Hon.  Charles  Allen. 

The  large  square  dwelling  house,  now  on  tlie  north  corner  of 
Main  and  Myrtle  streets,  formerly  stood  on  the  site  of  Butman 
Block,  and  was  the  residence  of  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  from  1798, 
(when  he  removed  from  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  School 
streets,)  until  his  death,  Sept.  2,  1827. 

The  dwelling  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Willard  F.  Pond 
on  Providence  street,  which  formerly  stood  just  soutli  of  Mr. 
Allen's,  where  Pearl  street  is,  was  the  residence,  until  his  de- 
cease in  1828,  of  John  Miller,  father  of  Henry  W.  Miller. 

Between  the  Joseph  Allen  and  John  Miller  estates  and 
Pleasant  street  was  the  extensive  estate  of  Judge  Nathaniel 
Paine,  who  had  about  150  acres  of  landing  extending-  west 
over  the  hill.     (See  page  89.) 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  261 

Tlie  late  Stephen  Goddard,  carriage-trimmeer,  and  his  brotli 
er,  Beiij.  Goddard,  carriage-maker,  came  to  Worcester,  about 
180G,  from  Cambridge,  being  among  the  earliest  to  carry  on 
those  departments  of  business  here,  which  they  did  in  connec" 
tion  for  many  years.  They  were  sons  of  Stephen  Goddard, 
and  grandsons  of  John  Goddard,  who  owned  and  resided  where 
tlie  Bunker  Hill  monument  is  in  Charlesto wn.  Benjamin  God- 
dard, when  lie  came  here,  purchased  the  estate  of  John  Farrar, 
on  the  north  side  of  Pleasant  street,  who  kept  store  in  the  old 
"•*  Compound"  building.  Farrar's  estate  comprised  several 
acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Chestnut  street, 
the  only  house  thereon  being  the  ancient  dwelling  last  oc- 
cupied by  Jeremiah  Stiles,  (grandfather  of  the  present  Maj.  F. 
G.  Stiles.)  Benjamin  Goddard  resided  and  carried  on  busi- 
ness on  this  spot  many  years,  his  shop  being  in  connection 
with  his  house.  He  built  the  two  houses,  next  east  of  that  in 
which  he  first  lived,  originally  for  a  shop,  one  of  which  he  sold 
to  Mrs.  Sewall  Hamilton,  and  the  other  to  Capt.  Erastus  Tuck- 
er. After  disposing  of  the  old  dwelling  (afterwards  owned 
and  occupied  by  Jeremiah  Stiles)  to  Samuel  Allen,  senior, 
county  treasurer,  the  land  including  the  site  of  the  present  re- 
sidence of  Horatio  N.  Tower,  Mr.  Goddard  removed  his  re- 
sidence and  business  to  Exchange  street,  and  subsequently  else- 
where. He  was  probably  the  first  regular  carriage  manufact- 
urer in  Worcester,  or  the  first  to  make  a  specality  of  the  busi- 
ness, the  next  after  him  being  Osgood  Bradley  and  Albert  Tol- 
ma'i- 

Stephen  Goddard  built  about  1806  or  1807  the  house  (for 
many  years  past  known  as  the  ''  Farmer's  Hotel"  on  Mechanic 
street,)  Avhich  stood  originally  on  the  site  of  "  Union  Block" 
on  Main  street,  just  south  of  Mechanics'  Hall,  and  was  owned 
and  occupied  by  Dea.  James  Wilson,  postmaster  from  1801  to 
1833.  After  selling  this  estate  to  Dea.  Wilson  about  1810,  Ste- 
phen Goddard  built  on  the  site  of  ''  Waldo  Block,"  just  north 
of  the  old  Central  Hotel,  his  house  and  shop  being  afterwards 
removed  to  give  way  to  the  present  brick  structure  on  their  site. 

On  the  soutli  corner  of  Main  and  Austin  streets  was  the  re- 
sidence, three  quarters  of  a  century  ago,  of  Alpheus  Eaton,  the 


262  Reminiscences  of    Worcester 

principal  shoe-maker  of  that  period  in  the  town.  After  liis 
decease  in  1882,  the  estate  was  purchased  by  William  Stowell, 
who  erected  the  present  building  upon  its  site,  where  he  resided 
until  his  decease,  Aug.  27,  1853. 

On  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  May  streets  is  an  ancient 
dwelling,  at  least  one  hundred  years  old,  the  original  farm- 
house of  the  Chandler-Ward-Jaqucs-AUen  estate,  which  was 
removed  from  its  original  location  upon  the  Ethan  Allen  estate 
in  1832  by  William  Stowell,  building  mover,  who  occupied  it 
for  a  few  years  upon  its  present  site  before  he  purchased  the 
Alpheus  Eaton  estate  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Austin  streets. 

On  Ripley  street,  leading  east  from  Main  street,  on  the  site  of 
the  residence  of  the  late  John  C  Ripley,  was  the  dwelling,  early 
as  1760,  of  Ebenezer  Wiswall ;  after  him  of  his  son,  Ebenezer 
Wiswall,  Jr. ;  of  the  latter's  son,  A.  C.  Wiswall  ;  and  next,  of 
Ebenezer  Collier,  the  last  owner  and  occupant  before  Mr.   Rip- 

ley. 

The  ancient  dwelling  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  nearly 
opposite  the  preceding,  owned  and  occupied  from  1786  to  1854 
by  Abel  Hey  wood  and  his  son,  the  late  Henry  Hey  wood,  was 
originally  the  residence  of  Zebadiah  Rice,  son  of  James  Rice, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  town.  James  Rice  was  a 
brother  of  Jonas,  and  settled  near  him.  Nathan  Patch  sold 
the  Zebadiah  Rice  estate  to  Abel  Heywood  in  1786. 

The  old  Dea.  David  Richards  dwelling,  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street,-  before  reaching  New  Worcester,  occupies  the  site 
of  a  former  dw^elling  on  this  estate,  owned  by  the  Chandlers 
before  the  revolution.  Simon  S.  Gates  owned  and  occupied 
this  estate  after  Dea.  Richards. 

On  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  just  before  descending  the 
hill  to  New  Worcester,  is  an  ancient  one-story  dwelling,  which 
was  the  residence  of  Ebenezer  Whitney,  (father-in-law  of  Wm. 
Hovey,)  before  he  purchased  his  residence  on  Lincoln  street, 
next  north  of  the  estate  owned  and  occupied  by  Artemas  Ward, 
register  of  deeds  from  1821  to  1846. 

On  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  City  Hall  stood  previous 
to  1824,  an  old  wooden  building,  in  the  first  story  of  which 
a    store  had  for  many  years  been  kept   successively   by  Dea. 


JReminiscences  of    Worcester.  263 

James  Wilson,  Reuben  Munroe  and  others,  and  in  the  sec- 
ond story,  entered  by  a  flight  of  stairs  from  the  outside  there 
had  for  many  years  been  a  printing  office,  where  the  old 
National  Mg\^  was  first  printed.  To  make  way  for  the  new 
structure,  this  old  building,  fronting  Main  street,  was  removed 
to  Front  street,  nearly  opposite  to  its  former  location,  and 
there  occupied  for  stores,  etc.,  until  it  was  torn  down  in  1854 
to  make  way  for  a  theatre  building  then  erected  upon  its  site 
by  Wm.  Piper. 

Reuben  Monroe  kept  store  in  the  above  building  for  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  previous  to  his  keeping  the  "  Baird 
Tavern"  on  the  old  Grafton  road.  Among  those  who  "  tend- 
ed store"  for  Mr.  Monroe  while  here,  was  our  venerable 
fellow  citizen,  Benjamin  Flagg.  Mr.  Monroe  built,  and  re- 
sided in,  at  that  time,  the  brick  house  on  Front  street,  now 
occupied  for  stores  by  George  Geer  and  others.  He  opened 
"Bigelow  Court,"  about  that  time,  east  of  his  dwelling,  in 
conjunction  with  Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow,  whose  estate  adjoined 
him  on  the  east. 

At  the  time,  above  alluded  to,  Maj.  Enoch  Flagg  resided 
in  the  large  wooden  dwelling  now  standing  on  the  east  side 
of  Bridge  street,  between  Mechanic  and  Front  streets,  whicli 
then  stood  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Bridge  streets,  it  be- 
ing afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Capt.  ^ilas  Bailey. 

Thompson  Kimberly,  one  of  the  prominent  members  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  at  its  organization  in  1812,  resided 
in  the  old  dwelling  on  the  east  side  of  Church  street,  after- 
wards owned  and  occupied  by  Maj.  Gardner  Paine,  until  the 
latter  removed  to  his  last  residence  still  occupied  by  his 
family  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and  West  streets.  Mr.  Kim- 
berly had  a  tailor  shop  in  the  old  "  Compound"  building, 
corner  of  Main  and  Front  streets. 

Richard  Mills  built,  nearly  sixty  years  ago,  the  brick 
building  on  the  corner  of  Mechanic  and  Church  streets,  af- 
terwards owned  and  occupied  by  Dea.  Daniel  Goddard,  be- 
fore the  latter  removed  to  his  present  residence  on  High 
street. 


264  Eeminiscences  of    Worcester, 

William  Gouldiiig,  sou  of  Ignatius  Gouldiiig,  (see  page 
52,)  resided  in  the  old  wooden  building  on  the  north  side  of 
Mechanic  street,  south  of  the  "  Farmer's  Hotel,"  a  wooden 
structure  occupying  the  site  of  the  brick  building  next  cast 
was  the  residence  of  Capt.  Thomas  B.  Eaton,  the  old  sexton. 

Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow,  representative  in  Congress  from  the 
Worcester  North  district  from  1810  to  1815,  who    soon  after 
came  to  Worcester  to  become   clerk  of  the  courts,  (see  page 
18,)  resided  first  in  the  house  previously  owned  and  occupied 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Austin,  and  afterwards  by  John  W.  Hubbard  and 
Samuel  H.  Colton,  on  the  site  of  Dr.  Emerson  Warner's  block, 
near  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  Austin  streets.     Mr.  Bigelow 
moved  next  into  the  old  Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler  mansion,  af- 
terwards owned  and  occupied  by  Judge  Barton,  (see  pages  21 
and  71,)  that  estate  about  that  time  being  purchased  by  Dea. 
Benjamin  Butman,  Mr.  Bigelow  having  the  previous  offer  of 
this  estate,  comprising  thirty-one  acres  of  land  for  the  sum  of 
$9,000,  but  he  thought  it  rather  high.     After  living  here  a  year 
or  two,  Mr.  Bigelow  resided  a  short  time  in  the  mansion  owned 
and  occupied  for  the  last  thirty  years  by  Osgood  Bradley.     Mr. 
Bigelow  then  purchased  of  Capt.  Azor  Phelps  the  estate  on  the 
west  corner  of  Front  and  Church  streets,  comprising  about  an 
acre  and  a  half  of  land,  for  83300.     This  included  the  original 
Daniel  Goulding  dwelling,  (alluded  to  on  page  19,)  where  Mr. 
Bigelow  resided  until  his  decease  in  IStJO.     He  was  olfered  one 
dollar  per  foot  for  47,000  feet  of  this  land  in  1851. 

The  mansion  above  alluded  to,  now  of  Osgood  Bradley,  was 
built  by  William  Hovey,  one  of  the  most  enterprising  business 
men  of  Worcester,  half  a  century  ago,  a  mill  right  by  trade, 
and  a  man  of  remarkable  mechanical  ability,  who  came  to 
Worcester  from  Connecticut  about  1811,  and  built  the  first 
dam  and  a  large  factory  at  South  Worcester  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  woolen  machinery,  on  land  he  purchased  of  Israel  W^hit- 
ney,  son  of  Capt.  Joshua  Whitney,  near  what  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  ''  Whitney  canal  lock."  He  resided  in  a  tene- 
ment in  one  end  of  his  factory  building  until  he  built  about 
1818,  the  Bradley  house,  which  was  then  considered  one  of  the 
most  elegant  and  costly  dwellings  in  the  town.     It  was  while 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  265 

Mr.  Hovey  lived  in  this  house  on  Front  street,  that  the  late 
Dca.  Ichabod  Washburn,  who  tlien  first  came  to  Worcester,  and 
worked  for  Mr.  Hovey,  boarded  with  him,  about  1818  or  1819, 
previous  to  Dea.  Washburn's  going  into  business  on  his  own 
account,  culminating  in  such  wonderful  success.  Mr.  Hovey 
about  1822  sold  out  his  South  Worcester  factory  to  tlie  late 
Wm.  B.  Fox,  who  began  there  his  first  manufacturing  in  Wor- 
cester, afterwards  carried  on  with  so  much  success  at  tlie  foot 
of  Green  street.  More  will  be  said,  at  another  time,  of  the 
manufacturing  enterprises  of  Messrs.  Hovey,  Fox,  Washburn 
and  others.  Mr.  Hovey  moved  from  his  front  street  residence 
to  occupy  the  brick  hotel  building  he  erected  about  that  time, 
called  the  "  United  States  Hotel."  Previous  to  Mr.  Bradley's 
purchasing  his  present  dwelling,  in  1845,  it  had  been  tlic  re- 
sidence, for  many  years,  of  Hon.  Rejoice  Newton. 

The  brick  building  above  alluded  to,  built  by  Reuben  Mon- 
roe, corner  of  Front  street  and  Bigelow  Court,  was  afterwards 
owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  T.  Turner,  and  subsequently 
owned  by  Daniel  Denny,  (son  of  the  Daniel  Denny  alluded  to 
on  page  253,)  who  sold  the  estate  in  1846  to  Luke  Jones. 
Austin  Denny  fifty  years  ago  owned  and  occupied  the  estate 
next  west,  on  Front  street,  where  Leland's  block  now  is,  and 
then  came  the  Dr.  Chapin  estate,  on  the  site  Wm.  Bush  has 
occupied  for  twenty-five  years. 

Notices  of  various  other  old  structures  in  different  sections 
of  the  city,  are  given  in  connection  with  notices  of  the  persons 
residing  in  or  occupying  them. 


34 


HOTELS,  roSl   OFFICE,   TOWX  HALL. 


C  H  A  Pl^  E  R    XVII. 


IIOTPXS. 

The  spot  where  a  hotel  has  been  longest  kept  in  Worcester, 
is  the  site  of  the  Bay  State  House,  where  there  has  been  a 
house  of  public  entertainment  ever  since  the  organization  of 
the  town,  a  period  of  155  years.  (See  page  30.)  On  the  site 
of  the  Lincoln  House,  a  hotel  was  kept  by  Thomas  Stearns  and 
his  wife  Mary  Stearns  for  fifty-two  years  from  about  1782  to 
1784,  (see  page  58.)  In  1835,  the  Lincoln  mansion,  occupy- 
ing nearly  the  site  of  the  former  or  ''  King's  Arms"  structure, 
was  converted  into  a  hotel  by  David  T.  Brigham,  and  a  public 
house  has  been  kept  there  ever  since,  a  period  of  forty-two 
years,  making  ninety-four  years  in  all.  On  the  site  of  Wm. 
C.  Clark's  block,  a  hotel  was  kept  lor  over  ninety  years  of 
the  132  years  from  1722  to  1854,  (see  page  20.)  The  old 
"  Exchange  HoteF'  building,  corner  of  Main  and  Market  streets, 
occupied  for  a  public  house  since  1785,  makes  the  third  place 
where  a  h.otel  has  been  kept  on  the  same  spot  for  over  ninety 
years.  At  the  old  Jones'  tavern  mansion,  still  standing,  beyond 
New  Worcester,  on  the  corner  of  Leicester  and  Apricot  streets, 
a  hotel  was  kept  by  father,  son  and  grandson,  Noah,  Phinelias 
and  John  Jones,  successively,  for  seventy-five  years  from 
1760  to  about  1835.  In  Tatnuck,  near  the  corner  of  Pleasant 
and  Mow^er  streets,  a  hotel  was  kept  by  father,  son  and  grand- 
son, Abel,  Joseph  and  Lewis  Holbrook,  from  about  1775  to 
1823,  at  which  latter  date  Lewis  Holbrook's  son-in-law,  the 
present  Benjamin  Flagg,  now  in  his  88th  year,  purchased  the 
estate  and  kept  a  hotel  in  the  same  building,  (now  owned  and 
occurjied  by  Mr.  Fiagg"s  son-in-law,  Geo.   S.   Newton.)     Mr. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  267 

Fiag'g  relinquished  the  hotel  business  about  1830,  when  Arclii- 
bald  Willard  opened  a  hotel  a  little  east  of  Mr.  Flagg's  re- 
sidence on  the  north  side  of  tlie  road,  and  kept  it  until  his  de- 
cease, Oct.  0,  1848,  and  after  him  it  was  kept])y  Jarues  Snow 
and  a  Mr.  Willington. 

Daniel  Baird  kept  a  hotel  from  about  1785  until  liis  decease 
Dec.  i),  1819,  on  wliat  used  to  be  known  as  the  "  Baird  Place" 
0)1  the  Grafton  road,  on  the  corner  of  Grafton  and  HarrinirtoR 
streets.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reuben  Monroe  wlio  continued 
the  hotel  there  for  many  years. 

Samuel  Harrington  had  a  hotel  from  about  1795  until  his 
decease,  March  27,1838,  aged  84,  on  the  old  Grafton  road  (now 
Harrington  street)  near  Grafton  line. 

Thomas  Knight  had  for  many  years  subsequent  to  1775  a 
iiotel  on  the  north  side  of  Lincoln  street,  east  of  Adams  Square, 
for  many  years  past  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  E.  Bond. 

On  the  east  side  of  Lincoln  street,  just  south  of  Adams 
Square,  Lydia  Chadwick  kept  a  hotel  for  many  years,  subsequent 
to  1797,  in  the  large  dwelling  afterwards  owned  and  occupied 
by  Josiah  Brittan. 

Samuel  Banister,  who  succeeded  Cyrus  Stockwell  as  inn- 
holder  at  the  old-'  Central  Hotel"  in  1828,  and  who  subsequent- 
ly succeeded  Capt.  Joseph  Lovell  as  keeper  of  the  hotel  theii 
kept  on  tlie  north  corner  of  Main  and  Tiiomas  streets,  after- 
wards kept  a  hotel  called  the  "Summer  street  House,"  in  the 
building  first  used  by  the  second  parish  (LTnitarian  society)  for 
tlicir  place  of  worship,  subsequently  converted  into  a  school- 
house. 

Betvrecn  'i\[tY  and  sixty  years  ago,  a  hotel  unler  the  name  of 
tiie  ••  Cow  Tavern,"  was  kept  on  the  estate  now  of  Francis  P. 
Stowell,  on  the  corner  of  Salisbury  and  Forest  streets,  by  Capt. 
Leonard  Clark  and  others.  Capt.  Clark  Jiad  previously 
kept  a  hotel  on  the  west  side  of  Burncoat  street,  opposite 
Adams  Square.     He  was  father  of  Wm.  L.  Clark,  city  assessoi-. 

A  hotel  was  also  kept  for  many  years,  within  the  last  ccnturv, 
at  the  ^'  Five  Points,"  so  called,  near  wlua  is  now  the  "  Summit" 
station  on  the  A\'orcester  and  Nasluia  railroad,  by  Col.  Gcorao 
Moure,  and  his  son,  Luther  G.  Moore. 


268  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Daniel  Cliadwick,  near  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
had  a  hotel  on  West  Boylston  street,  just  south  of  Northville, 
in  the  large  house  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  "  Brig- 
ham"  estate. 

Asa  Hamilton,  (father  of  Capt.  Charles  A.  Hamilton,)  kept 
a  hotel  between  1794  and  1800  in  the  ""Solomon  Parsons 
house,"  on  Apricot  street,  a  little  west  of  the  old  Jones  tavern. 
Apricot  street  was  a  part  of  the  oldest  traveled  thorouglifare 
and  stage  route  between  Boston  and  New  York,  through  Wor- 
cester. 

For  a  notice  of  John  Curtis'  hotel  on  Lincoln  street  between 
1754  and  1774,  see  page  34  ;  of  Samuel  Jennison's  tavern  a 
little  east  of  it  from  1782  to  1815,  see  page  58  ;  of  the  old 
"Hancock  Arms"  and  "  Brown  and  Butman"  tavern  on  Lin- 
coln street,  see  page  39  ;  of  the  "  Deland  tavern"  at  New  Wor- 
cester, kept  from  1812  to  about  1850,  successively  by  Charles 
Stearns,  Uriah  Stone,  Joseph  Curtis,  and  C.  M.  Deland,  see 
page  39  ;  of  the  Nathaniel  Eaton  tavern  on  Front  street,  kept 
from  1817  to  1847  by  Nathaniel  Eaton,  Wm.  Chamberlain, 
Aaron  Howe,  John  Bradley  and  Hiram  Billings,  see  page  50  ; 
the  tavern  kept  by  the  tory  Wm.  Jones,  from  1770  till  his  death, 
April  6,  1777,  aged  73,  on  the  site  of  Sargent's  block,  corner 
of  Main  and  Southbridge  streets,  see  page  36  ;  Harmon  Cham- 
berlin  kept  the  jail  tavern  at  Lincoln  Square  from  1822  to  1824, 
after  Gen.  Heard  and  Asahel  Bellows  ;  then  the  old  "  Bigelow 
tavern,"  corner  of  Mountain  and  Nixon  streets,  from  1824  to 
1826,  (see  page  44);  and  then  the  "Lincoln  Square  Hotel," 
(see  page  256.)     Wm.  Harrington  kept  on  Park  street,  (see 

page  54.) 

The  Old  "  Central  Hotel.  " 

The  ancient  three-story  structure,  now  standing  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Salem  and  Madison  streets,  (see  page  30,)  has 
a  history  carrying  the  original  part  of  it,  built  by  the  first  Dan- 
iel Heywood,  to  the  first  organization  of  the  town.  The  three 
Daniel  Heywoods,  father,  son  and  grandson  successively  kept  a 
hotel  in  the  original  part  of  this  building,  while  it  stood  on  its 
original  site,  where  the  Bay  State  House  now  is,  for  nearly  nine- 
ty years,  from  1722  to  the   decease  of  tlic   tliird  Daniel   Hey- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  269 

wood,  Dec.  15,  1809,  aged  b^.  The  estate  was  soon  after  pur- 
cliased  by  Reuben  Wheeler,  who  added  thirty  feet  front  by  sixty 
deep  to  the  north  side  for  a  hall,  making  the  whole  building 
about  75  feet  front  by  60  deep.  The  hall  occupied  the  two  up- 
per stories  of  the  north  side  addition,  and  the  dining  hall  was 
in  the  first  story.  The  office  was  in  the  south-west  corner,  and 
the  ladies'  entrance  in  the  middle  of  the  Main  street  front. 
This  hall,  after  it  was  built,  was  the  largest  hall  in  the  town 
until  Brinley  Hall  was  built  in  1836.  The  meetings  of  the 
Agricultural  society,  Fourth  of  July  celebrations  and  other 
festivals  of  the  town,  took  place  in  it  for  a  long  series  of  years. 
Samuel  Hathaway  purchased  the  estate  of  Mr.  Wheeler  about 
1816.  Cyrus  Stockwell  became  owner  of  the  property  about 
18*24,  and  put  on  the  piazza  at  the  south-west  corner  entrance. 
He  subsequently  added  a  third  story,  increasing  the  accommo- 
dations 40  rooms,  and  a  two-story  piazza  at  the  front  entrance. 
He  kept  the  hotel  a  few  years,  and  then  leased  it  to  Samuel 
Banister.  Mr.  Stockwcll,  (who  was  father  of  Hon.  Stephen  N. 
Stockwell  of  tlie  Boston  Journal,)  sold  the  real  estate  about 
1833  to  Gen.  Nathan  Heard  and  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  in  whose 
hands  the  ownership  remained  until  it  was  purchased  by  the 
"  Bay  State  House"  Corporation  in  1854,  for  the  erection  upon 
the  site  of  the  old  structure  of  the  buildino-  since  known  throuQ-h- 
out  the  country  as  one  of  the  largest  and  most  popular  hotels 
in  the  central  section  of  New  England.  After  Samuel  Banister 
left  it,  about  1833,  the  Old  "  Central  Hotel,"  the  name  given  to 
it  about  this  time,  was  kept  successively  by  Z.  and  D.  Bonney, 
Cyrus  Stockwell,  Luke  Williams,  Wood  &  Fisher,  T.  E.  Wood, 
Elias  T.  Balcom,  Clifford  &  Swan,  and  Warner  Clifford,  to  the 
year  1854,  when  it  was  removed.  The  elegant  "  Bay  State 
House"  was  opened  upon  the  same  site  in  1857  with  Warner 
Clifford  as  landlord,  succeeded  by  Maj.  Church  Howe,  Linsley 
&  Randall,  Hatch  &  Wilcox,  Horace  Barnes,  Charles  B.  Pratt, 
and  Pond  &  Shepard  to  the  present  time. 

Among  the  best  remembered  of  the  many  interesting  reminis- 
cences of  the  old  "  Central  Hotel,"  are  those  connected  with 
the  fact,  that  it  was  the  head  quarters,  from  1830  to  1846,  of 
the  most  distinguished  stage  proprietor   and   manager  of  that 


270  Reminiscences  of    Worcesier. 

period,  the  Hon.  Ginery  Tvvicliell,  who  has  been  successively 
post  rider,  stage  driver,  the  most  noted  express  rider  of  liis 
time,  stage  proprietor,  railroad  superintendent,  j^resid-ont  of  tlie 
Boston  and  Worcester  railroad  corporation  and  representative 
in  Congress — and  is  now  president  of  the  Boston,  Barre  and 
Gardner  raih-oad  corporation. 

The  Old  •'  Ea(;le  Ijutel.'' 

Gne  of  the  earliest  brick  buildings  in  Worcester  is  thai  on 
iho  liorth  corner  ol  Main  and  Thomas  streets,  built  by  Elna- 
than  Pratt,  (father  of  John  B.  Pratt.)  wlio  had  his  residence 
and  store  in  it  for  many  years.  A  hotel  was  afterwards 
kept  there  for  about  thirty  years,  under  dilTercnt  luimes,  as 
•^  Eagle  Hotel,"  "  Fessendeirs  Hotel,"  and  then  '^Worcester 
Temperance  House,"  and  ''  Franklin  House."  Tliis  hotel 
was  kept  successively,  from  about  182G,  by  Capt.  Joseph 
Lovell,  Samuel  Banister,  Eleazer  Porter,  Col.  Warner  Hinds, 
David  Bonney,  J.  Fessenden,  Gen.  George  Hobbs,  J.  E.  Wood, 
S.  W\  Steele  till  about  1866,  since  which  time  the  main  part  of  it 
has  been  occupied  by  Howe,  Bigelow  (t  Co.,  wire-workers 
who  purchased  the  real  estate  of  Gen.  Hobbs,  the  latter 
liaving  bought  it  of  the  Pratt  heirs  in   1837. 

This  building  was  erected  in  180G.  John  Milton  Earle  and 
Anthony  Chase  kept  store  in  it  a  few  years,  both  before  and 
after  keeping  on  the  site  of  Paine  Block,  (see  page  2G0.) 

The  Waldo  House. 

At  the  Waldo  House,  on  Waldo  street,  the  original  portion 
of  which,  while  on  its  former  location  on  the  site  of  Mechanics' 
Hail,  was  the  residence  of  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo  from  1828  to 
his  death  in  1845,  a  hotel  has  been  kept  from  Jan.  28,  18oG.  to 
June  G,  185G,  by  Russell  Lamb  ;  to  18G0  by  R.  N.  Start ; 
to  1863  by  Thomas  Tucker  k  Co. ;  to  18GG  by  R.  N.  Start : 
nine  months  to  Jan.  1,  18G7,  by  Warner  Clifford  ;  ten  years  to 
Jan.  1, 1877,  by  R.  N.  Start ;  from  the  latter  date  by  L.  B. 
Start.  The  fourth  story  was  added  to  the  main  part  in  ISGG, 
and  the  five-story  addition  made  to  the  rear  in  1872. 


Mansion  of  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  on  Main  Street,  in  1824. 


Reminlscejices  of    WGrcesler.  271 

The  Lincolx  PIotse. 

The  accompanying  engraving  of  the  Lincohi  Mansion,  on 
Main  street,  done  expressly  for  this  work,  represents  that  dis- 
tinguished seat  of  official  hospitality  in  tlie  [)ast,  as  it  ap- 
peared at  the  reception  of  Tiafayette,  in  1824,  and  while  it  was 
the  residence  of  the  Late  Gov.  Levi  Lincohi,  a  period  of  nearly 
twenty  five  years,  from  the  time  of  its  erection  by  him  in  1811 
or  1812,  until  1835,  when  he  built  his  last  mansion  upon  Elm 
street,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo 
Lincoln.  This  covered  the  period  when  he  was  governor,  from 
1825  to  1884,  after  wdiicli  lie  was  eight  years  representative  in 
Congress,  and  then  collector  of  the  port  of  Boston,  among  his 
other  high  official  positions.  While  Gov.  liincoln  occupied  his 
Main  street  residence,  it  was  the  seat  of  generous  hospitality  to 
many  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  country,  including 
Daniel  Webster,  Henry  Clay,  John  Quincy  Adams,  Edward 
Everett,  Felix  Grundy  of  Tennessee,  SaniT  L.  Southard  of  New 
Jersey,  and  other  statesmen  from  different  sections  of  the 
Union.  On  such  occasions  as  that  which  marked  the  "•  national 
republican  convention,"*  held  in  the  Old  South  Church,  Oct.  11 
and  12, 1832,  when  Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky  and  John  Sergeant 
of  Pennsylvania  were  nominated  for  the  presidency  and  vice- 
[)residency.  Gov.  Lincoln  was  renominated  the  ninth  time  for 
governor,  and  Daniel  Webster  made  one  of  his  great  speeches, 
the  Lincoln  Mansion  was  the  recipient  of  the  most  distinguished 
persons  present,  as  guests.  Its  ample,  high  studded  parlors, 
and  numerous  suite  of  rooms,  specially  adapted  it  for  public 
occasions,  and  no  very  great  addition  to  it  was  necessary  in  or- 
der to  convert  it  into  a  hotel,  when  the  governor  left  it  and 
sold  it,  at  the  time  of  going  into  his  new  mansion  upon  the 
hill,  which  he  occupied  for  a  still  longer  period,  some  thirty- 
three  years,  until  his  decease,  May  29,  1868. 

Elm  street  was  opened  by  Gov.  Lincoln,  when  he  began  to 
build  upon  that   street,  about  1834.     When  his  Main   street 


*  This  was  before  the  organization  of  the  "  Whig"  party  so  called,  the  political 
<,']omeiits  of  which  the  latter  was  com[)ose(l,  having  previously  been  designated 
!nore  generally  by  the  name  of  "national  republican."  Although  this  name 
was  given  to  this  convention,  ia  the  established  report  at  the  time,  it  was  a 
regular  State  con'/ention,  and  being  presidential  year,  when  a  full  set  of  pre- 
sidential electors,  representative  as  well  as  senatorial,  were  chosen,  national 
matters  were  dl'icussed  much  moie  prominently  than  State  issues. 


272  Reminiscences   of  Worcester. 

mansion  was  converted  into  a  liotcl  by  David  T.  Brigliam  in 
1835,  the  latter  constructed  a  semi-circular  drive-way  up  to 
tlie  front  door,  extendinjjj  around  the  beautiful  lawn  in  front  of 
the  house,  from  Elm  to  Maple  streets,  which  latter  street  was 
opened  at  the  same  time. 

A  hotel  was  kept  here,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Worcester 
House,"  from  1835  to  1857,  successively  by  David  T.  Brigham, 
Lysander  C.  Clark,  Hiram  and  Gordon  Gould,  T.  E.  Wood,  J. 
G.  Fisher,  J.  W.  Lane,  Wm.  F.  Day,  Col.  Warner  Hinds, 
Truesdell  &  Norris,  Ebenezcr  Harrington,  William  Wells,  Frank 
Green,  Wm.  E.  Richardson,  and  A.  W.  Bugbee.  The  property, 
comprising  about  33,000  square  feet  of  land  was  purchased  of 
Gov.  Lincoln  in  December,  1843,  by  James  IT.  Wall 
and  the  late  Edward  H.  Hcmenway  for  •^1-1,000.  They 
in  1844  erected  a  one-story  building  of  seven  stores  on  the 
park  in  front,  leaving  a  drive-way  in  the  rear  around  the  front 
of  the  old  mansion.  In  1854,  theseone-story  stores,  or  "tombs," 
as  they  were  called,  were  removed,  and  the  block,  since  known 
as  "  Lincoln  House  Block,"  127  feet  front  and  four  stories  high, 
was  added  to  the  front  of  the  old  structure,  and  the  hotel  from 
that  time  has  been  known  as  the  *'  Lincoln  House."  Messrs. 
H.  T.  Bonuey  &  Co.  (Thomas  Tucker  and  John  G.  Ball)  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Bugbee  as  landlords  in  1857,  and  they  were  suc- 
ceeded by  James  H.  Wall,  A.  G.  Williams,  Elias  T.  Balcom, 
Mrs.  Holden,  George  Tower,  Wall  k  Williams,  Wall  &  Balcom, 
Sumner  W.  Balcom,  and  George  Tower  again.  Mr.  Tower 
purchased  the  property  of  James  H.  Wall,  April  1,  1877,  and 
then  began  his  present  occupancy  of  the  house,  wdiich  has  the 
reputation  of  being  a  first-class  hotel  in  every  respect. 

James  H.  Wall,  in  1864,  had  made  a  division  of  the  original 
estate  with  the  heirs  of  his  former  partner,  (who  died  in  1861,) 
himself  taking  the  Lincoln  House  portion,  and  Mr.  Hemen- 
way's  sister  (Mrs.  Dr.  Workman,)  taking  the  block  in  front. 

Among  the  w^ell  remembered  incidents  connected  with  the 
old  "  Worcester  House,"  is  one  of  the  time  that  Daniel  Webs- 
ster  spoke  from  its  front  portico,  July  3, 1840,  when  he  stopped 
there  on  his  way  from  Washington  to  deliver  a  Fourth  of 
July  address,  the  next  day  at  Barre.     This  was  during  the  rag- 


Ilemimscences   of  Worcester.  273 

ingof  the  excitino;  political  campaign  for  "  old  Tippecanoe  and 
Tyler  too,"  when  "  log  cal)ins  and  hard  cider"  carried  the  day. 
It  being  known  that  Daniel  Webster  had  that  morning  arrived, 
and  ^vas  stopping  at  this  honse,  a  large  crowd  soon  col- 
lected in  front,  and  called  him  out.  After  enthusiastic  cheer- 
ing, and  an  appropriate  introduction,  the  great  "Defender  of 
the  Constitution,"  gratified  his  audience  by  saying,  among 
other  things  :  "  The  news  received  at  Washington  from  all 
sections  of  the  country  leaves  no  room  for  doubt  of  the 
triumphant  election,  in  November  next,  of  William  Henry 
Harrison  as  President  of  the  United  States,"  a  prediction 
fulfilled  in  a  manner  highly  satisfactory  to  the  triumphant 
party,  however  much  may  have  been  their  disappointment, 
after  the  death  of  the  president  of  their  choice,  at  the  poli- 
tical backsliding  of  "  Capt.  Tyler." 

During  the  fall  of  1837,  a  grand  supper  was  given  in  the 
dining  hall  of  the  Lincoln  House,  (then  ''  Worcester  House,") 
to  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  and  Wm.  J.  Graves  of  Kentucky,  by 
their  political  friends,  in  Worcester  county,  or  rather  the 
friends  of  their  great  champion,  Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky.  At 
this  festival  were  present  many  of  the  most  distinguished  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  • 

Among  the  other  distinguished  guests  of  the  old  "  Worcester 
House,"  were  Abraham  Lincoln,  afterwards  president  of  the 
United  States,  and  Gen.  Leslie  Combs  of  Kentucky,  who  made 
speeches  at  the  old  City  Hall,  in  the  summer  of  1848,  for 
"  Taylor  and  Fillmore,"  and  were  entertained  here,  with  many 
other  noted  men  of  the  nation,  during  the  celebrated  political 
campaign  of  that  year,  when  the  "  Heart  of  the  Common- 
wealth "  became  the  head  quarters  of  the  new  "  Free  Soil 
movement"  which  subsequently  overturned  both  the  great 
political  parties  then  dividing  the  politics  of  the  country.  Du- 
ring that  memorable  year,  such  renowned  representatives  of 
those  times  as  Samuel  Hoar,  Stephen  C.  Phillips,  Charles  Sum- 
ner, Henry  Wilson,  Anson  Burlingame,  Charles  Francis  Adams, 
Richard  H.  Dana,  John  G.  Palfrey,  Amasa  Walker,  John  P. 
Hale,  Salmon  P.  Chase,  and  Lewis  D.  Campbell  of  Ohio,  co- 
operated with  our  own  distinguished  fellow-citizens,  Charles 
35 


274  Hemlnlscences  of  Worcester. 

Allen,  John  ]\Jilt()ii  Enilc  anil  otl;crs  in  lonndina'  llic  '"Free  SolT' 
subsequently  the  Repul)lican  party  of  the  country.  All  these 
found  generous  entertainment  at  the  "  Worcester  House"  and 
''  American  J  louse." 

Aljraham  Lincoln  also  made  a  speech  from  the  portico  of  the 
old  depot  on  Foster  street,  on  his  departure  from  l^.ere  on  that 
occasion.  At  a  later  period,  Joshua  R.  Giddings  was  entertain- 
ed at  the  "  Lincoln  House,"  with  due  honors,  and  made  a 
speech  to  an  immense  assemblage  in  the  old  Foster  depot, 
standmg  near  the  old  turn-table,  afterwards  removed. 

Daniel  Webster,  who  made  a  speech  l>ere  in  the  old  City 
Hall,  in  the  fall  of  1848,  for  "Taylor  and  Fillmore,"  was  the 
guest  of  Gov.  Lincoln  at  his  new  mansion  upon  the  hill,  fi-om 
the  front  portico  of  which  Mr.  Webster  also  spoke  to  a  large 
assemblage,  after  the  close  of  his  speech  at  the  City  Elall. 

The  Old  "Exchange  Hotel." 
Next  south  of  the  Theophilus  Wheeler  estate  is  the  old    Ex- 
change Hotel  estate,  which  has  had  many   owners   and   occup- 
ants since  the  old  structure,  which  lias  quite   a   local  history, 
was  first  erected  in  1784,  by  Nathan  Patch,  a   noted   land   pro- 
prietor'builder  and   business   man   of  that   period,  who   came 
from     Ipswich    to   Worcester.     He  married,    Dec.    26,    17G0, 
Eunice  Adams,  daughter  of  Nathaniel   and  Lucy  Adams,  who 
resided  in  the  ancient  Adams  house*  on  the  east  side  of  Plant- 
ation street,  near  the   State  Hospital  barns,  that  estate   be- 
ing afterwards  owned  and   occupied  by   Samuel  Porter,  who 
married  Nathan   Patch's  daughter   Sarah   in    1790.     Previous 
to  1785,  Nathan  Patch  owned  the  estate  (originally  belonging  to 
Zebadiah  Rice)  on   Main  street,  half  way  to  New  Worcester, 
which  estate  was  sold  by  Mr.  Patch    to  Abel  Heywood,  father 
of  the  late  Henry  Heywood,  where  the  latter  resided  till  1854. 
After  Nathan  Patch  had  completed  the  building  of  this  hotel  in 
1784,  he  resided  in  it  for  several  years,  and   during  that  time 
built  the  house  next  south  of  it  on  the   opposite   corner  of  old 
Market  street,  afterwards  occupied  by  himself  and  subsequent- 

*  The  Commonweaith  having  purchased  this  estate  for  the  hospital,  the  oki 
buildings  on  it  were  sold  at  auction,  June  14,  1877,  and  removed. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  275 

ly  owned  and  occupied  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  Porter, 
who  died  there,  June  14,  1859,  aged  88,  her  husband,  Samuel 
Porter,  (father  of  the  present  Samuel  A.  Porter,)  having  de- 
ceased Feb.  10,  1808,  aged  43,  a  few  months  before  the  decease 
of  her  father.  Nathan  Patch  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  real 
estate  in  the  rear  of  the  places  where  he  had  built,  and  relin- 
quished the  hotel  about  1793  to  Wm.  Barker,  (great-grandfa- 
tlier  of  Mrs.  Judge  F.  H.  Dewey,)  who  kept  it  until  about  1803, 
from  which  time  Samuel  Jolmson  kept  the  hotel  until  1807, 
wlien  Col.  Reuben  Sikes  from  Connecticut,  the  celebrated  stage 
proprietor,  purchased  tlie  estate,  and  managed  the  hotel  for 
sevcnteeu  years  until  his  decease,  Aug.  19, 1824,  aged  69.  He 
made  this  hotel  the  leading  one  in  the  town,  and  the  srand 
centre  of  arrival  and  departure  of  all  the  different  stage  lines 
connecting  Worcester  with  all  sections  of  the  country.  Col. 
Sikes  was  associated  in  his  stage  business  with  Levi  Pease  of 
Shrewsbury,  who  died  Jan.  23,  1824,  aged  84.  Tiiey  were  the 
original  proprietors  of  the  stage  lines  between  Boston  and  New 
York,  through  Worcester,  which  they  began  to  operate  in  1783. 
Following  Col.  Sikes,  Capt.  Samuel  B.  Thomas  from  Brookfield 
had  the  hotel  for  sixteen  years  till  his  death,  April  21,  1840, 
aged  61,  after  whom  his  son-indaw,  Pliinehas  W.  Waite,  kept 
it  until  1855,  Steplien  Taft  till  1859,  Samuel  Banister  till 
liis  decease,  Apr.  7,  1865,  and  Russell  Lamb,  Aaron  Parker,  L. 
H.  Baker  and  W.  F.  Weeks  till  1877.  The  present  owner  of 
the  estate  is  Russell  Lamb,  who  has  sold  a  })ortion  of  the  northern 
end  of  it  for  stores. 

For  half  a  century  or  so  of  the  ninety-three  years  since  this 
hotel  was  opened  to  the  public,  it  was  the  leading  hotel  of  the 
town,  and  of  the  county,  where  distinguished  travelers  al- 
ways stopped,  and  where  the  judges  and  others  connected  with 
the  courts  were  entertained  during   court  time. 

Qcw.  Washington  breakfasted  at  this  house  on  his  passage 
through  Worcester  in  the  fall  of  1789,  while  on  his  tour  through 
New  England  after  his  inauguration  as  president  of  the  United 
States.  Gen.  Lafayette  also  took  breakfast  in  it,  when  passing 
through  Worcester  (iCty-two  years  ago,  while  on  his  way  from 
the  west  to    Boston,  to  assist    in   laying    the   corner    stone    of 


276  Reminiscences  oj    Worcester. 

Bunker  Hill  monument,  June  17,  1825.  During  its  earlier 
period,  this  hotel  was  called  the  "United  States  Arms  ;"  while 
under  the  management  of  Col.  Sikes  it  went  by  the  name  of 
"  Sikes'  Coffee  House,"  and  "'-  Sikes'  Stage  House."  Under 
Capt.  Thomas,  it  was  called  "  Thomas'  Exchange  Coffee  House," 
and  "  Thomas'  Temperance  Exchange,"  the  temperance  move- 
ment beginning  soon  after  Capt.  Thomas  began  to  keep  it. 
Latterly,  it  has  <ione  under  the  general  name  of  "  Exchange 
Hotel."  The  ownership  of  the  property  remained  iu  the  Sikes' 
heirs  till  about  1866,  when  it  was  sold  to  Harrison  Bliss,  and 
by  him  to  the  present  owner,  Russell  Lamb,  who  has  just  dis- 
continued its  use  as  a  hotel,  sold  a  portion  of  the  old  estate 
for  stores,  and  the  remainder  will  probably  soon  be  disposed  of 
for  other  uses,  unless  it  should  be  leased  or  sold  to  a  party 
disposed  to  continue  it  as  a  public  house.  Until  the  recent 
disposal  of  a  portion  of  the  northern  section  of  it  for  stores, 
the  old  house,  liu'ce  stories  in  height,  had  a  frontage  of  about 
110  feet  on  Main  street,  and  extending  back  over  90  feet  on 
Old  Market  Street.  The  opening  of  the  various  railroads, 
beginning  in  1835,  carried  the  leading  hotel  business  farther 
up  town,  to  the  old  ••'  Central  Hotel,"  where  the  Bay  State  now 
is  ;  the  old  "  American  House,"  corner  of  Main  and  Foster 
streets,  previously  the  residence  of  Hon.  A.  D.  Foster  ;  the  old 
"  United  States  Hotel,"  kept  by  James  Woi'thington,  Wm.  C. 
Clark  and  others  ;  and  the  old  "  Worcester  House,"  after- 
wards "  Lincoln  House,"  previously  the  residence  of  Hon.  Levi 
Lincoln. 

The  Old  *'  American  Temperance  House." 
John  W.  Stiles,  who  purchased  about  1820,  the  efetate  corner 
of  Main  and  Foster  streets,  previously  owned  and  occupied  suc- 
cessively by  Capt.  John  Stanton  and  Thomas  Stevens,  (see  page 
71,)  including  the  land,  where  the  old  Universalist  Church, 
Foster  street  depot  and  American  House  Block,  now  are, 
sold  to  his  son-in-law,  the  late  Hon.  Alfred  Dwight  Foster, 
the  northern  portion  of  his  estate,  on  which  the  latter,  who 
established  himself  here  as  a  lawyer  in  1824,  erected  his 
first  residence  of  brick,  afterwards  converted  into  a  hotel,  un- 
der the  name  of  the   "  American  House."     Mr.   Fester,  who 


AMERICAN  TEMPERANCE  HOUSE,  1835. 


RESIDENCE  OF  Maj.  JEDEDIAH  HEALY,  1780. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  277 

completed  his  law  studies  here  with  his  brother-iii-law,  Hon. 
S.  M.  Biiniside,  after  his  graduation  at  Cambridge  in  1819, 
married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Stiles,  and  resided  in  this  dwellino- 
until  he  built  upon  Ciiestnut  street  in  1885.  Upon  the  death 
of  Maj.  Jedediah  Healy  in  1821,  tlie  hitter's  estate  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Burnside,  who  began  practice  here,  soon  after 
completing  his  law  studies  with  Chief  Justice  Artemas  Ward, 
in  1810,  and  married  Mr.  P'oster's  sister.  Mr.  Burnside  re- 
sided in  this  dwelling,  next  north  of  that  of  his  brother-in-law, 
until  he  built  his  last  residence,  now  occupied  by  his  daughters, 
upon  Chestnut  street,  next  south  of  that  of  Mrs.  Foster.  The 
ancient  Healy-Burnside  dwelling,  for  many  years  past  occupied 
for  stores  by  A.  L.  Burbank  and  otheis,  is  one  of  the  few 
architectural  relics  of  the  last  century  left  standing  in  the 
business  section  of  Main  street. 

Foster  street  was  opened  by  Hon.  xV.  D.  Foster  in  1835, 
when  he  converted  his  dwelling,  on  its  corner,  into  a  public 
house,  which  he  enlarged  for  the  purpose  by  the  ad- 
dition of  wings  to  the  rear.  This  hotel  was  kept  successively 
by  Eleazer  Porter,  R.  W.  Adams,  Col.  Warner  Hinds  and  R. 
W.  Adams,  Gen.  Heard  &  Adams,  and  Tucker  &  Bonney,  the 
latter  going  out  of  it  in  1857,  when  it  was  discontinued,  into 
the  Lincoln  House,  which  had  then  just  been  greatly  enlarged 
by  the  addition  to  it  of  the  front  portion,  known  as  "  Lincoln 
House  Block."  The  old  "  American  House"  was  afterwards 
remodeled  and  enlarged,  and  converted  into  stores,  and  the 
building  has  since  been  known  as  ''  American  House  Block," 
of  which  the  two  upper  stories  have  for  twenty  years  been  oc- 
cupied by  J.  B.  Lawrence  &  Co.  for  furniture  ware  rooms. 

Lyman  Brooks  was  clerk  at  the  "  American  House"  seven 
years,  before  entering  upon  his  duties  of  conductor  of  the  Wor- 
cester and  Nashua  railroad  in  1849. 

Among  the  distinguished  guests  of  this  house,  at  different 
periods,  were  Martin  Van  Buren,  president  of  the  United  States  ; 
John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  the  poet ;  and  Sampson  V.  S.  Wild- 
er, who  entertained  Lafayette  at  Bolton  in  1824. 

This  hotel  had  a  double  piazza,  the  whole  width  of  the  front, 
and  a  single  piazza  the  whole  length  of  the  House  on  Foster 
street. 


278  Reminiscences  of  Woi^cester. 

Washington  Square  Hotel. 

Samuel  Hatlmway,  when  be  sold  the  old  ''  Central  Hotel" 
estate  in  1824  to  Cyrus  Stockwell,  purchased  of  Wing  Ivelley 
and  Josepli  Daniels,  brothers-in-law,  at  Washington  Square, 
tlieir  farm,  comprising  over  one  hundred  acres  on  both  sides  of 
Grafton  street,  bounded  west  by  Mill  Brook,  and  including  tlie 
old  Pine  street  burial  ground  and  the  land  now  owned  by  the 
Boston  and  Albany  railroad  company,  as  well  as  that  on  which 
the  old  "  Worcester  Brewery"  and  "  W^orcester  Distillery," 
built  soon  afterwards  by  other  parties,  stood.  Mr.  Hathaway, 
immediately  after  his  purchase,  for  which  he  gave  about  -SoOOO, 
built  the  structure  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Washington 
Square  Hotel,"  which  he  kept  until  his  decease,  March  16, 
1831,  aged  48.  The  hotel  property  was  then  leased  by  the 
heirs  to  Augustus  Norton  Goddard,  who  kept  it  until  the  house 
with  a  large  tract  of  land  around  it  was  purchased  by  the  Bos- 
ton and  Worcester  railroad  company,  for  their  freight  depot 
and  other  accommodations. 

Wm.  E.  Wesson  then  kept  the  hotel,  on  lease  from  the  rail- 
road company,  until  about  1851,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Elliot  Swan,  who  kept  it  about  twenty-one  years,  until  about 
1872,  when  arrangements  were  begun  for  the  erection  of  the 
new  Union  depot,  and  the  old  hotel  building  was  moved  off, 
and  now  stands  on  the  land  belonging  to  the  Boston  and  Albany 
railroad  corporation,  on  the  north  side  of  Grafton  street. 

Mr.  Wesson  had  just  established  himself  in  his  new  quarters, 
called  "  Wesson's  hotel,"  a  little  east  of  his  former  location, 
where  his  son,  Geo.  R.  Wesson,  now  resides,  when  he  died, 
Feb.  9,  1852,  aged  74. 

As  to  the  other  surroundings  of  Washington  Square,  Col. 
Samuel  Ward  and  George  A.  Trumbull  erected,  about  1824,  on 
land  purchased  of  Samuel  Hathaway,  the  old  '^  Worcester 
Brewery"  building,  afterwards  occupied  for  several  years  by 
Osgood  Bradley  for  his  car  works,  and  for  over  twenty-five 
years  past  occupied  for  tenement  houses.  F.  W.  Paine  and 
Daniel  Heywood  also  about  1827  erected  the  brick  structure 
known  as  the  old  "  Worcester  Distillery"  building,  afterwards 
occupied  for  many  years  by  Irish   families,  and   known   as   the 


Rzminiscences  of    Worcester.  279 

old  "  Arcade,"  and  subsequently  by  the  Arcade  Malleable  Iron 
Works  until  the  old  building  was  torn  down  in  187C  to  "make 
way  for  the  railroad  and  other  improvements  in  that  locality. 

Wing  Kelley,  whose  wife  was  a  sister'^of  Joseph  Daniels,  and 
who.  after  this  sale,  purchased  and  resided'upon  tlie'farm  own- 
ed and  occupied  for  the  last  forty  years  by;  Charles  Iladwen, 
liad  his  residence,  while  lie  occupied  the  W^ashington  Square 
estate,  in  a  dwelling  which  stood  near  the  corner  of  Grafton  ond 
])loomingdale  streets.  He  w^as  fatlier  of  ^Irs.  Abby  Kelley 
Foster. 

Till']  Worcester  Post  Office. 

Tlic  postmasters  of  Worcester,  from  the  first  one  appointed 
by  l\)stmaster  General  Benjamin  Franklin  in  1775,  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  have  l)een  :  Isaiah  Thomas,  twenty-six  years  to 
1801  ;  James  Wilson,  thirty-two  years  to  1833;  Jubal  Har- 
rington, six  years  to  1839  ;  Maturin  L.  Fisher,  ten  years  to 
1849;  Edward  Winslow  Lincoln,  five  years  to  May  1,  1854; 
Emory  Banister,  seven  years  to  July  1,  1861  ;  John  Milton 
Earle,  six  years  to  Oct.  1,  1867  ;  Gen.  Josiah  Pickett,  ten  years 
to  tiie  present  time. 

Wlicn  Isaiah  Thomas  was  postmaster,  the  office  was  at  his 
office  on  Court  Hill.  It  was  removed  by  James  Wilson  to  the 
store  kept  for  a  while  by  the  latter  in  the  first  story  of  a  wood- 
en building  then  occupying  the  site  of  the  City  Hall,  removed 
to  the  opposite  side  of  Front  street,  when  the  Town  Hall,  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  City  Hall,  was  built  in  1825.  After  Dea. 
Wilson  moved  into  the  residence  he  so  long  occupied,  on  Main 
street,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Union  block,  (just  soutli  of 
Mechanics'  Hall,)  the  post  office  was  there,  from  1810  to  1833, 
and  soon  after  removed  to  the  old  Central  Exchange,  where  it 
remained  until  removed  to  its  present  location,  Jan.  1,  1867. 

To  show  the  increase  in  the  business  of  this  office  from  year 
to  year,  a  comparison  of  statistics  with  former  periods  may  be 
of  interest.  During  the  first  quarter  of  the  year  1806,  the 
amount  collected  by  Postmaster  Wilson,  was  $178.80,  at  the 
rate  of  $715.20  for  the  year.  The  amount  collected  by  Post- 
master Banister  just  fifty  years  later,  from  Jan.  1  to  April  1, 
1859,  was  $4183,  at  the  rate  of  $16,732  for  the  year.     The  re- 


280  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

ceij3t3  of  the  office  for  the  year  1876,  collected  by  Postmaster 
Pickett,  were  838,798.80,  being  more  than  four  times  as  much 
as  the  receipts  for  18")9,  sixteen  years  previous.  The  number 
of  letters  sent  by  Postmaster  Wilson  during  the  year  1809,  was 
about  4400  ;  the  number  sent  by  Postmaster  Banister  fifty 
years  later  in  1859  was  523,000,  including  25,936  drop  letters  ; 
the  numi)er  of  letters  sent  by  Postmaster  Pickett  during  the 
year  1876,  was  2,664,000,  including  444,000  postal  cards,  be- 
ijig  over  five  times  as  many  as  during  the  corresponding  period, 
sixteen  years  previous.  As  the  amount  of  mail  matter  received 
for  delivery  averages  about  the  same  as  that  sent,  the  estimated 
number  of  letters  sent  and  received  the  last  year,  was  4,500,000. 
The  receipts  and  business  of  the  office  have  more  than  doubled  da- 
ring the  past  ten  years,  since  Gen.  Pickett  has  been  postmaster. 
During  the  year  1876,  the  number  of  newsdealers'  and  publish- 
ers' packages  sent  was  228,000  ;  and  of  pamphlets,  magazines, 
transient  newspapers,  circulars,  books,  samples  of  merchandise, 
etc.,  438,000.  Tlie  business  of  the  office  has  shown  a  continual 
increase  from  time  to  lime  in  all  tiie  departments,  culminating 
in  the  present  enormous  amount,  contrasting  marvelously  with 
that  transacted  by  Isaiah  Thomas  for  Postmaster  General 
Franklin,  in  one  corner  of  the  original  Spy  office  counting-room 
on  Court  Hill  in  1775. 

The  money  order  business  of  tlie  Worcester  office,  (a  depart- 
ment of  the  recent  post  office  establishment  in  the  country,) 
shows  the  following  statistics  for  the  year  1876  :  Number 
of  orders  issued,  7997,  amounting  to  8120,269.79  ;  number  of 
orders  paid,  9808,  amounting  to  8163,992.31. 

In  the  free  delivery  department,  the  amount  of  mail  matter 
delivered  by  letter  carriers  in  1876  was  as  follows  :  Mail  letters 
700,270;  drop  letters  99,684;  postal  cards  191,095;  newspa- 
pers 352,251 ;  total  number  of  pieces  delivered  1,346,300. 
Number  collected  from  street  boxes  :  Letters  443,140  ;  postal 
cards  96,345  ;  newspapers  45,460  ;  total  number  of  pieces  col- 
lected 584,945.  The  carriers'  delivery  and  money  order  busi- 
ness have  trebled  during  the  last  ten  years. 

The  number  of  registered  letters  sent  in  1876  was  3897  ; 
number  delivered  4285  ;  in  transit  10,480.  The  number  of 
dead  and  unmailable  letters  was  6285. 


lleminiscences  of    Worcester.  281 

The  Old  '^  United  States  "  Hotel. 

Tlie  late  William  Hovoy,  purchased  the  old  hotel  estate 
on  tlie  south  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  streets,  previous- 
ly owned  and  occupied  hy  Ephraim  Mower,  uncle  and  neph- 
ew, (see  pages  20  and  21.)  built  thereon,  in  1818,  the 
brick  ljuilding  afterwards  known  as  the  "  United  States 
Hotel,"  and  kept  it  for  a  while,  under  the  name  of  the 
'•  Worcester  Hotel."  He  was  succeeded  as  keeper  by  Oliver 
Eager  and  Oliver  White  uiUil  1828,  and  in  1824  by  Lovell 
Baker,  in  182G  i)y  D.  P.  Haynes,  and  in  1827  by  James 
W^orthington.  At  this  time,  the  late  Simeon  Burt  and  Geo. 
T.  Rice,  who  purchased  the  property  of  Mr.  Hovey,  had 
just  completed  the  addition  of  an  ell  part  to  the  building. 
W^illiam  C.  Clark,  who  had  been  clerk  for  Mr.  Worthington 
since  1827,  went  into  company  with  him  in  1833,  and  changed 
the  name  to  "  United  States  Hotel,"  Worthington  k  Clark 
keeping  it  together  till  1836,  from  which  time  Mr.  Clark 
kept  it  alone  till  1847.  He  purchased  Mr.  Rice's  half  of  the 
estate  in  1841,  and  the  other  half  of  Maj.  Burt  in  1853. 
From  1847  the  hotel  was  kept  successively  by  Thomas  Stevens, 
Simeon  Burt,  Charles  Sibley,  A.  G.  Williams  and  Levi  Pierce, 
to  1854,  when  the  present  Clark's  block  was  erected  on  its  site. 
The  old  building  was  moved  back  on  Mechanic  street,  where  it 
stood  till  the  erection  of  Crompton's  block  in  1869. 

From  about  1825,  this  began  to  be  the  leading  stage 
house  of  the  town,  Maj.  Burt,  the  successor  to  Col.  Sikes' 
stage  business,  having  removed  his  headquarters  hither  from 
the  lower  end  of  Main  street.  The  old  "Central  Hotel," 
where  the  Hon.  Ginery  Twichell  had  his  headquarters,  from 
1830  to  1846,  as  the  most  distinguished  stage  proprietor  of 
that  period,  was  at  that  time  the  principal  stage  head- 
quarters, especially  for  the  northern  and  north-western  sec- 
tions of  the  county,  as  the  "United  States  Hotel"  had  been 
more  particularly  for  the  eastern  and  western,  before  the 
opening  of  the  railroads.  It  was  a  common  thing,  before  the 
opening  of  the  railroads,  to  count  from  twenty  to  thirty  stages 
from  different  directions  arriving  at  and  departing  from  the 
old  "  United  States,"  almost  in  line,  the  same  morning. 
36 


282  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Thk  Town   Hall. 

The  fii'st  j)ublic  action  taken  toward  the  biiihliag"  of  the 
Town  Hall,  (comprising  the  first  oi- front  portion  of  tlie  present 
City  Hall,)  was  taken  at  a  town  meeting  held  March  1,  1824, 
when  Samnel  Harrington,  senior,  Samuel  T.  Read,  Rejoice 
Newton,  John  W.  Lincoln,  John  Davis,  Frederick  Wm.  Paine, 
and  Enoch  Flagg  were  chosen  a  "  committee  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  subject  of  the  Town  Hall,  and  report  at  an  ad- 
journed meeting.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  ]\Iay  o,  this 
committee  made  a  favorable  report,  which  was  accepted,  re- 
commending the  construction  of  a  building  (30  by  52  feet,  with 
a  large  hall  in  the  first  story,  and  two  halls  above,  and  a  l)asc- 
ment  underneath  the  whole  for  a  provision  market,  stores,  etc., 
which  building,  according  to  a  plan  presented  by  Capt.  Lewis 
Bigelow,  would  not  cost  over  87000  if  of  brick,  and  •i'l^OOO  if  of 
wood.  At  an  adjourned  town  meeting  held  May  IT,  following, 
it  was  voted  to  build  a  Town  Hall,  not  to  exceed  64  feet  long 
by  34  feet  front,  and  not  to  cost  over  87000,  and  the  following 
persons  were  chosen  a  building  committee  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  the  same  :  Frederick  Wm.  Paine,  Col.  John 
W.  Lincoln,  Hon.  Wm.  Eaton,  Otis  Corbett,  and  Maj.  Enoch 
Flagg.  These  persons,  witli  Hon.  Abijali  Bigelow,  Capt.  Eph- 
raim  Mower,  Col.  Samuel  Ward,  ^laj.  Samuel  xVllen,  Jr.,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Chapin,  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  Dr.  xVbraham  Lincoln, 
Hon.  Edward  D.  Bangs,  Wm.  Chamberlain,  Maj.  Joel  Gleason 
and  John  Gleason,  Jr.,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  locate  the 
place  for  the  building,  of  what  materials  to  construct  it,  and 
suggest  the  ways  and  means  for  the  raising  of  funds  therefor. 
They  decided  to  locate  it  on  the  north-east  corner  of  the  com- 
mon, near  the  old  church,  on  the  site  of  a  tv/o-story  wooden 
structure  erected  in  the  last  century,  and  owned  by  Col.  Sam- 
uel Flagg,  on  land  leased   to   him   by  the  town. 

The  arrangements  for  the  building  so  far  progressed,  that 
the  foundations  were  completed,  and  the  corner  stone  of  the 
new  structure  was  laid  Aug.  2,  1824,  with  Masonic  ceremonies, 
under  the  direction  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  F.  A.  M.,  Capt. 
Lewis  Bigelow,  W.  M.,  assisted  by  the  craftsmen  of  other 
Lodges  in  the  neighboring   towns.     A  procession   was  formed 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  283 

at  one  o'clock  in  tlie  aCtornoon,  in  front  of  Masonic  Hall,*  and 
moved  thence  to  tlie  hotel  of  Cyrus  Stockwell,  (where  the 
Bay  State  House  now  is,)  where  the  citizens  of  the  town  gen- 
erally united  with  them.  Thence,  the  large  procession  moved, 
under  the  chief  marshalship  of  Col.  Samuel  Ward,  to  the 
foundation  of  the  Town  House.  Here,  after  religious  exercises 
were  performed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Going  of  tlie  Baptist 
Church,  the  stone  was  laid  with  the  due  and  ancient  ceremonies 
of  Masonry,  by  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow,  master  builder,  and  Col. 
Peter  Kendall,  (brick  mason,)  principal  architect.  After  the 
completion  of  these  ceremonies,  a  neat  and  handsome  address 
was  delivered  by  Hon.  S.  M.  Burnside,  well  adapted  to  the  oc- 
casion, in  which  ho  referred  to  several  interesthig  points  in  the 
history  of  the  town. 

Tlie  work  so  progressed  from  this  point  that  the  building  was 
completed  within  nine  months  from  the  day  the  corner  stone 
was  laid,  and  was  dedicated  May  2,  1825,  on  which  occasion 
there  were  religious  exercises  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft 
of  the  Second  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Church,  and  a  his- 
torical address  was  delivered  by  Hon.  John  Davis. 

Among  those  who  worked  for  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow,  the  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  this  structure,  were  his  (then)  apprentices 
at  the  carpenter's  trade,  Horatio  N.  Tower  and  Samuel  A.Por- 
ter. This  building  had  in  the  first  story  a  large  hall  for  the 
holding  of  public  meetings,  with  separate  and  convenient  rooms 
for  the  selectmen,  assessors,  Kq.  The  second  or  upper  story 
was  divided  into  two  smaller  halls,  one  for  the  Masonic  bodies 
(who  had  previously  used  the  Maj.  Healy  Hall,)  and  the  oth- 
er for  tlie  use  of  tlie  Agricultural  Society  and  other  purposes 
for  which  it  might  be  leased.  The  basement  below  the  lower 
hall  was  intended  for  a  provision  market  or  storage  purposes. 
The  whole  cost  was  about  110,000. 

The  first  change  of  importance  in  the  building,  to  adapt  it  to 
the  growing  wants  of  the  town,  demanding  larger  accommoda- 

*  This  w;is  in  the  buihiing  in  the  rear  of  tlie  S.  M.  Burnside  estate,  on  Main 
street,  lor  numy  years  known  as  Maj.  Healy's  Hall,  for  several  years  occupied 
by  the  Masonic  fraternity,  subsequently  for  various  other  purposes,  ainoni]: 
them  as  a  ptintini;-  office  by  Henry  .1.  Rowland.  Atter  the  Town  Hall  building 
was  completed,  the  Masons  hired  the  south  hall  in  the  second  story. 


284  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

tions,  was  made  in  1841.  At  tlie  annual  town  meeting  liold 
March  1,  1841,  Col.  Jolm  W.  Lincoln,  Pliny  Merrick,  William 
Barber  and  Col.  James  Estabrook  were  chosen  a  committee  on 
a  proposed  alteration  and  enlargement  of  the  Town  Hall,  and 
they  reported  at  the  adjourned  town  meeting,  April  5,  the  fol- 
lowing plan  which  was  accepted  and  carried  out: 

"  On  the  east  end,  adding  fifty  feet,  making  the  building  114  feet  long. 
In  the  second  or  upper  story  to  be  one  large  hall  100  by  51  feet,  and  18 
feet  high,  this  height  to  be  obtained  by  dropping  the  present,  second  floor 
two  feet.  This  upper  hall  will  then  have  three  rows  of  raised  seats  all 
around,  sufficient  to  accommodate  350  or  400  persons.  The  present  upper 
or  second  story  [i.  e.  as  it  was  previous  to  this  change]  is  divided  into  four 
rooms  ;  one  hall  36  by  51  feet,  one  room  19  by  20  feet,  and  two  smaller 
rooms  each  9  1-2  by  20  feet,  with  a  passage-way  between  these  last  three 
rooms.  The  room  on  the  lower  floor  now  occupied  as  an  armory  will  be  ta- 
ken away,  and  the  space  thrown  open  as  an  entrance  hall.  The  first  floor  of 
the  addition  (on  the  east  end)  will  form  a  hall  51  by  48  feet,  and  will  be 
3ntered  by  a  flight  of  steps  from  the  east,  and  the  other  end  of  the  building 
will  be  entered  by  two  doors  cut  through  the  west  wall.  It  is  not  contem- 
plated to  take  down  this  wall  below  the  floor  of  the  upper  hall.  The  base- 
ment of  the  addition  is  to  be  divided  into  four  rooms,  two  of  which  are  in- 
tended to  accommodate  the  engine  company  now  in  the  old  part.  The  north- 
east and  south-east  corner  rooms  may  be  occupied  by  town  oflic:-rs,  or  leased 
to  advantage.  On  the  outside  of  the  old  part  no  change  is  proposed,  except 
making  a  third  door  in  front,  and  filling  up  the  space  between  the  present 
flights  of  steps  with  additional  steps.  The  outside  of  the  addition  will  be  in 
the  same  style  as  the  old  part,  but  the  plan  proposes  an  outside  flight  of 
steps  and  a  portico  over  them  on  the  east  end  for  obtaining  an  entrance  into 
the  large  lower  hall  without  passing  through  the  smaller  hall  at  the  west 
end." 

These  recommendations  were  adopted,  and  the  proposed  ad- 
dition and  enlargement  carried  into  effect,  the  same  year,  ac- 
cording to  this  plan,  under  the  direction  of  a  building  commit- 
tee consisting  of  Col.  John  W.  Lincoln,  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  Gen. 
Thomas  Chamberlain,  Henry  W.  Miller,  and  Wm.  A.  Wheeler, 
who  were  authorized  to  borrow  ?|7500  for  the  purpose. 

The  "  Upper  Town  Hall,"  was  the  name  generally  given  to 
the  large  hall  in  the  second  story,  which  had  a  gallery  at  the 
east  and  west  ends,  the  speaker's  platform  being  on  the  north 
side.  The  two  lower  halls  were  called  respectively  the  *'  East 
Town  Hall,"  and  "  West  Town  Hall." 

The  next  change  was  made  in  1848,  when  the  town  became 
a  city,  the  east  lower  hall  being  converted  into  a  Police  Court 
room,  and  the  west  lower  hall  into  rooms  for  the  city  council, 
clerk,  treasurer,  etc.,  with  the  police  office  in  the  basement  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  285 

east  end.  These  improvements  were  made  under  the  dh-ection 
of  Alderman  James  S.  Woodwortli,  builder. 

In  1852,  the  speaker's  platform  in  tlie  upper  hall  or  City 
Hall  was  changed  from  the  north  side  to  the  east  end,  the 
gallery  at  that  end  removed,  retiring  rooms  constructed  at 
each  end  of  tiie  platform,  and  a  narrow  flight  of  stairs 
built  at  the  north-east  corner  of  tiie  building  to  give  ac- 
cess to  the  same  without  going  through   the    audience-room. 

In  1857,  the  south  flight  of  stairs  to  the  upper  hall  from 
the  front  entrance  was  removed,  to  enlarge  tlie  quarters  of 
the  city  clerk,  whose  office  was  removed  to  its  present  loca- 
tion in  front,  windows  being  at  this  time  substituted  for 
the  two  original  doors  on  each  side  of  the  main  entrance, 
and  a  change  made  in  the  north  flight  of  stairs  to  the  up- 
per or  city  hall  by  which  an  office  for  the  city  messenger 
was  created  in  its  present  location  between  these  stairs  and 
the  north  front  window.  An  office  was  at  this  time  also 
made  for  the  superintendent  of  schools  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs  over  that  of  the  city  clerk,  comprising  the  front  por- 
tion of  the  location  afterwards  appropriated  for  the  mayor's 
office. 

The  next  change  of  importance  was  made  in  1836,  under 
the  first  year's  administration  of  Mayor  Blake,  when  an  al- 
most entire  re-arrangement  of  the  interior  was  made,  into 
the  shape  it  now  presents,  by  transferring  the  City  Council 
and  Police  Court  rooms  into  the  old  "City  Hall''  al)ovc, 
witli  the  mayor's  office  in  front,  devoting  the  wiiole  of  the 
first  story  to  quarters  for  ilie  various  city  officers,  and  en- 
larging the  quarters  for  the  police  department  by  deepening 
the  floor  of  the  basement,  and  extending  it  under  the  whole 
building. 

There  are  many  interesting  associations  connected  with  this 
old  Town  and  City  Hall,  more  or  less  permanently  fixed  in  the 
memory,  arising  principally  from  the  fact,  that  after  its  enlarge- 
ment in  1841,  and  previous  to  the  completion  of  Mechanics'  Hall 
in  1857,  it  was  by  far  the  largest  hall  in  the  place,  and  all  the 
largest  assemblages  and  conventions  lor  different  purposes  and 


2S6  Beminiscences  of    Worcester. 

objects  ill  the  "  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth"  were  lield  in  it. 
All  tlie  political  parties  made  its  walls  echo  their  annual  re- 
solves and  the  patriotic  addresses  of  the  most  eloquent  repre- 
sentative men.  This  hall  was  the  birthplace  of  the  old  "  Free 
Soil"  party,  and  here  was  its  cradle  rocked,  nearly  thirty  years 
ago,  by  men  who  have  been  since  most  honored  in  the  councils 
of  the  nation, — including  Sumner,  Wilson,  Adams,  Allen,  Hoar, 
Palfrey  and  Walker. 

Here  was  that  memorable  controversy  in  the  summer  of  1848, 
w^ell  remembered  for  the  ability  and  zeal  with  which  it  was  con- 
ducted, between  Gov.  Lincoln  and  Judge  Allen,  when  each  had 
a  '"  foeman  worthy  of  his  steel,"  their  swords  flasliing  fires  of 
eloquence  and  scholarship  rarely  equalled,  in  support  of  the 
political  views  each  deemed  most  conducive  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  country — widely  differing,  it  is  true,  as  to  the  merits 
of  particular  measures,  but  each  speaker  equally  honest,  out- 
spokeu  and  able,  in  the  expression  of  his  views. 

A  brief  account  of  the  state  of  things  giving  occasion  for  this 
remarkable  controversy,  may  be  interesting  in  this  connection, 
following  immediately  as  it  did  the  birth  of  the  political  organ- 
ization referred  to,  known  as  the  "  Free  Soil  party"  : 

In  June,  1848,  Gens.  Zachary  Taylor  and  Lewis  Cass  had  been  nominated 
for  the  presidency' ,  respectively,  by  the  then  Whig  and  Democratic  parties 
of  the  country,  and  Charles  Allen  of  "Worcester  and  Henry  Wilson  of  Natick 
liad  repudiated  the  nomination  of  Gen.  Taylor  by  the  convention  of  the  par- 
ty at  Philadelphia,  to  which  they  were  delegates,  on  the  ground  of  "  sub- 
serviency to  slaver}^"  Four  persons,  previously  of  the  Whig  party,  Albert 
Tolman,  Henry  H.  Chamberlin,  William  A.  Wallace  and  Oliver  Harrington, 
representing  the  dominant  political  feeling  in  Worcester  in  reference  to  the 
nominations  wliich  had  been  made,  were  particularly  active  in  organizing 
that  sentiment  into  action,  and  it  found  its  first  puljlic  expression  in  a  large 
meeting  at  the  City  (former  Town)  Hall,  on  Wednesday  evening,  June  21, 
1848,  wdien  the  introductory  speech  of  that  memorable  campaign  was  made 
by  Hon,  Charles  Allen.  This  was  "  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Worcester 
opposed  to  the  nominations  of  Cass  and  Taylor,  preliminary  to  the  State 
Convention  to  be  held  on  AVednesday,  June  28,"  at  the  same  place.  This 
preliminary  meeting  of  June  21,  described  at  the  time  as  "large  and  en- 
thusiastic as  any  ever  assembled  in  AYorcester,"  was  called  to  order  by 
Oliver  Harrington,  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  Albert  Tolman  as  pre- 
sident, and  William  A.  Wallace  secretary,  who  were  present  and  served. 
Oliver  Harrington,  George  W.  Russell,  Henry  H.  Chamberlin,  Edward 
ISouthwick  and  Joseph  Boyden  w^ere  appointed  a  committee  to  nominate  a 
list  of  persons  to  act  as  committee  of  arrangements  for  the  State  Convention 
t.)  be  he'd  June  28,  and  the  names  thus  reported  and  adopted,  besides  those 
above  mentioned,  were  :     Charles  Allen,  Alexander  DeWitt,  Charles  Wash- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  287 

barn,  Thomas  A.  Clark,  John  0.  Mason,  Rufiis  D.  Dunbar,  Edward  Hamil- 
ton, James  F.  Allen,  EdAvard  II.  Hemenway,  John  C.  Newton,  Benjamin  E. 
Hutchinson,  P.  B.  Gilbert,  Enoch  Hall,  Samuel  Davis,  John  C.  AV^yman.  II. 
G.  Darling,  Joseph  A.  Gilbert,  A.  P.  Ware,  Charles  Hadwen,  Augustus 
Tucker. 

While  this  business  was  being  transacted,  Hon.  Charles  Allen  entered  the 
hall,  amid  the  loudest  demonstrations  of  applause,  accompanied  by  the  com- 
mittee who  had  been  sent  for  him,  and  who  had  previously  in  their  individual 
capacity  engaged  him  to  speak  at  this  meeting.  Judge*  Allen's  speech  in 
review  of  the  doings  (^f  the  Philadelphia  Convention,  and  urging  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  party  with  candidates  pledged  to  the  support  of  '•  free  soil" 
principles,  occupied  two  hours,  and  was  received  with  the  greatest  enthusisism. 
liis  colleague  at  Philadelphia,  Henry  Wilson,  the  "  Natick  Cobbler,"  being 
present,  was  called  upon,  and  spoke  briefly  in  support  of  what  had  been 
so  ably  and  boldly  said. 

Resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  thoroughly  endorsing  and  sustain- 
iug  the  action  by  Judge  Allen  and  Gen.  Wilson  at  Philadelphia. 

Just  before  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting,  the  Rev.  George  Allen,  who 
had  been  absent  most  of  the  evening  on  duties  connected  with  his  position  as 
chaplain  at  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital,  offered  the  following  resolution, 
couched  in  his  terse,  emphatic  style  of  composition,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted  amidst  the  loudest  applause  : 

"Resolved,  That  Massachusetts  wears  no  chains,  and  spurna  all  bribes; 
that  Massachusetts  goes  now,  and  AviU  ever  go,  tor  free  soil  and  free  men, 
for  free  lips  and  a  free  press,  for  a  free  land  and  a  free  world." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  "  to  meet  the  true  men  of  the  Commonwealth, 
on  Wednesday,  the  28th  in.st.,  in  the  same  place,  to  consult  upon  the  course 
of  action  which  the  exigency  of  the  times,  the  good  of  the  country,  and  the 
cause  of  freedom  and  humanity  demand." 

At  the  Mass  State  Convention,  which  was  held  June  28,  following,  in  the 
old  City  Hall,  where  the  "  Free  Soil"  party  was  formally  organized  and 
ushered  into  political  existence  in  due  form,  all  sections  of  the  Common- 
wealth were  represented  by  many  of  the  ablest  men,  and  large  nunibers 
were  also  present  from  other  States,  filling  the  hall  to  its  utmost  capacity. 
The  convention  was  called  to  order  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  by  Hon. 
Alexander  DeWitt  of  Oxford,  and  Hon.  Samuel  F.  Lyman  of  Northampton 
was  chosen  temporary  chairman,  and  Wm,  S.  Robinson  of  Lowell,  [Warring- 
ton,] chosen  temporary  secretary.  A  committee,  of  which  Plon.  Edward  L. 
Keyes  of  Dedham  was  chairman,  was  then  chosen  to  nominate  permanent 
officers,  Augustus  Tucker  being  the  Worcester  member  of  that  committee  ; 
and  in  accordance  with  their  report,  the  following  were  chosen  permanent 
officers  of  the  convention  :  President — Hon.  Samuel  Hoar  of  Concord  ;  Vice- 
Presidents — Hon.  Alanson  Hamilton  of  West  Brookfield,  James  S.  Richard- 
son of  Medway,  Dr.  S.  G.  Ilow^e  of  Boston,  Hon.  John  Wells  of  Chicopee, 
James  Stevens  of  Warwick  and  Richard  P.  Waters  of  Salem  ;  Secretaries — 
Wm.  S.  Robinson  of  Lowell,  Wm.  A.  Wallace  of  Worcester^  Allen  Shepard 
of  Ashland  and  Wm.  A.  Arnofd^flNloHhampfonT" 

Thunders  of  applause  greeted  the  introduction  of  Hon.  Samuel  Hoar  to 
the  platform,  coujiled  as  his  name  was  with  the  ignominious  treatment  he  had 
received  in  South  Carolina,  while  there  as  the  representative  of  Massachusetts 
to  protest  against  the  grievous  wrongs  our  colored  citizens  had  received  at  her 
hands. 

After  prayer  by  Rev.  George  P.  Smith  of  the  old  South  Church,  and  an 
address  from  the  chair,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Stephen  C.  Phillijis 
of  Salem,  Erastus  Hopkins  of  Northampton,  Daniel  W.  Alvord  of  Greenlield, 


2S8  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

E.  R.  Hoar  of  Concord,  John  Milton  Earle  of  "Worcester,  Allen  Bangs  of 
Springfield,  M.  M.  Fisher  of  Medway  and  Wni.  B,  Spooner  of  Boston,  were 
chosen  to  prepare  an  address  to  the  people,  which  was  subsequently  read  by 
;Mr.  Phillips,  an  able  and  lengthy  document,  thoroughly  endorsing  the 
course  and  action  of  Judge  Allen  and  Gen.  Wilson,  and  suggesting  plans  of 
action  for  the  future,  in  co-operation  with  a  similar  movement  in  other 
States.  Speeches  followed  by  Judge  Allen  and  Gen.  AY.ilson,  who  were 
loudly  called  for,  and  by  Charles  Sumner,  Abraham  Paine  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  J.  C.  AVoodman  of  Maine  and  Amasa  Walker  of  North  Brookfield. 
Letters  were  read  by  Mr.  Sumner  from  Hon.  J.  R.  Williams  ol  Michigan, 
Hon.  John  G.  Paltrey,  then  members  of  Congress,  and  others  from  other 
States,  endorsing  the  movement. 

At  the  afternoon  session,  Hon.  Lewis  D.  Campbell,  member  of  Congress 
from  Ohio,  and  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  Convention  was  introduced 
and  spoke,  followed  b}'  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  the  veteran  representative  in 
Congress  from  Ohio.  ^Ir.  Phillips  then  read  the  address  and  resolutions  of- 
fered by  the  committee,  which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

At  the  evening  session,  speeches  urging  on  the  movement,  were  made  by 
Hon.  Charles  Francis  Adams  of  Quinc}*,  Joseph  C.  Lovejoy  of  Cambridge, 
Charles  Sumner,  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  and  E.  R.  Hoar.  Stephen  C.  Phillips 
headed  the  list  t)f  delegates  at  large  chosen  to  the  Free  Soil  National  Con- 
vention to  be  held  in  August  at  Buffalo,  and  Charles  Francis  xVdams  the  list 
of  members  of  the  State  Central  Committee  chosen. 

Ao"ainst  the  party  thus  organized  was  arrayed  the  influence  of  most  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  time  in  Worcester,  including  Govs.  Levi  Lincoln  and 
John  Davis,  Judges  Ira  M.  Barton,  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  Emory  AVashburn 
and  Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  Hon.  Alexander  H,  Bullock  and  others  whose 
eloquence  was  wont  to  awaken  the  echoes  of  that  old  Hall,  on  public  and 
political  occasions. 

The  first  political  mass  meeting  held  on  the  other  side,  in  ratification  of 
the  nomination  of  Taylor  and  Fillmore,  was  held  at  the  City  (the  Town) 
Hall,  on  the  night  of  Saturday,  June  24,  when  there  was  an  immense  au- 
dience, comprising  many  besides  ^Vhigs.  This  meeting  was  called  to  order 
by  Hon.  Thomas  Kinnicutt,  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  Hon.  Ira  M. 
Barton  for  chairman  and  JohnC.  B.  Davis,  (sjn  of  Gov.  Davis,)  for  secretary. 
After  a  speech  from  the  chair.  Gov.  Lincoln  arose  and  announced  that  on 
some  future  evening  he  should  take  occasion  to  reply  to  the  charges 
ac^ainst  himself  and  tiis  friend  Gov.  Davis  in  the  address  made  in  that  hall 
on  the  Wednesday  evening  previous,  [by  Hon.  Charles  Allen,]  and  to  the 
aro-uments  contained  in  that  speech  against  the  nominations  made  at  Philadel- 
phia. Gov.  Lincoln  concluded  by  introducing  to  the  audience  Gen.  Leslie 
Combs  of  Kentucky,  the  friend  and  neighbor  of  Henry  Clay,  who  then  spoke 
at  some  leno-th  in  defence  of  the  Philadelphia  nominees.  Hon.  Alexander 
H.  Bullock  read  a  series  of  resolutions  endorsing  those  nominations,  which 
were  adopted. 

The  evening  appointed  for  the  address  of  Gov.  Lincoln  was  July  15,  when 
the  hall  was  again  packed  to  its  utmost  capacity.  The  Governor  spoke 
about  two  hours,  in  an  exceedingly  able  and  eloquent  manner,  during  which 
he  made  a  review  of  the  whole  political  situation,  claiming  that  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  country  demanded,  especially  from  the  Whigs  of  the  North, 
acquiescence  in  the  nomination  of  Gen.  Taylor,  and  replying  to  the  charges 
made  by  Judge  Allen  that  those  who  did  so,  went  back  on  their  previous 
AVhig  professions  and  became  mere  "  serfs  of  the  slave  power." 

Of  course,  this  is  no  proper  medium  for  expression  of  opinion  as  to  the  re- 
lative merits,  either  of  the  great  arguments  contained  in  the  two  speeches 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  289 

above  alluded  to,  or  of  the  vast  questions  then  in  issue,  the  discussion  of 
vs^hich  soon  spread  over  the  whole  country,  and  ended  finally  only  in  the  fall- 
inf^  of  the  last  shackle  from  the  last  slave  in  the  land.  The  motives  which 
actuated  these  two  distinguislied  men,  honored  representatives  of  their  time 
and  generation,  can  never  be  impeached,  founded  as  they  were  upon  princi- 
ples adopted  after  long  experience  in  public  affairs.  Both,  "  natives  and  to 
the  manor  born,-'  at  different  periods  represented  the  same  constituency  hon- 
orably and  faithfully  in  both  the  state  and  national  councils,  as  had  also 
their  honored  sires  before  them. 

No  two  men  were  more  warmly  attached  friends  during  their  last  years, 
and  like  Jefferson  and  Adams,  after  the  settlement  of  the  great  questions  the 
discussion  of  which  had  made  them  for  a  time  political  antagonists,  they 
went  to  their  last  reward,  with  the  general  benediction,  "  well  done,  good 
and  fiiithful  public  servants."  Gov.  Lincoln  died  May  29,  18G8,  aged  8G, 
and  Judge  Allen,  Aug.  0,  18G9,  aged  71. 

Other  speeches  followed  on  hoth  sides  in  this  hall,  during 
this  celebrated  campaign,  by  many  of  the  ablest  men  in  tlic 
country,  including  Daniel  Webster,  Charles  Sumner  and  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  afterwards  president  of  the  United  States. 

The  result  of  the  memorable  contest  thus  begun  here,  was 
the  triumph  of  the  new  "  party  of  freedom"  at  the  polls  in 
November  following,  by  a  large  majority,  and  by  a  large  plural- 
ity in  the  county.  Two  years  later,  a  victory  followed  in  the 
State  by  which  Charles  Sumner  was  placed  in  the  seat  of 
Daniel  Webster  in  the  United  States  Senate  ;  six  years  later, 
Henry  Wilson  was  the  Senatorial  colleage  of  Sumner,  and  a 
Massachusetts  Republican  filled  the  office  of  Speaker  in  the  na- 
tional House  of  Representatives  at  Washington  ;  four  years 
subsequently,  a  Republican  President  of  the  United  States  was 
elected,  in  the  person  of  that  same  Abraham  Lincoln,  on  the 
same  platform  of  principles  promulgated  by  the  party  he  had 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  speak  against  twelve  years  previous  in 
our  City  Hall,  and  presidents  of  the  same  political  stripe  have 
ever  since  been  chosen.  Henry  Wilson,  the  compeer  of  Chas. 
Allen  in  the  initiation  of  the  "  Free  Soil  "  movement,  died  Vice 
President  of  the  United  States. 


37 


RAILROADS,  DEPOTS,  ETC.,  ETC. 


CHAPTER    XVIII 


The  Old  Foster  Street  Depot  and  its  Surroundings. 

As  the  old  Foster  street  railroad  depot  and  its  immediate 
surroundings  are  soon  to  undergo  important  changes  prelimin- 
ary to  the  construction  of  the  proposed  new  street  from  Main 
street  over  the  site  of  the  old  depot  to  the  new  union  passenger 
station  at  Washington  Square,  a  few  words  in  reference  to  past 
associations  connected  with  this  locality  may  be  of  interest. 
One  hundred  years  ago,  the  land  in  this  vicinity  was  owned  by 
Capt.  John  Stanton,  Jr.,  who  came  from  Boston  in  1776,  and 
married  in  1780,  a  daughter  of  the  last  Judge  Chandler,  (see 
page  71.)  He  had  a  handsome  garden  and  an  extensive  tract 
of  land  in  the  rear  of  his  residence,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  old  Universalist  Church,  corner  of  Main  and  Foster  streets. 
The  land  extended  east  as  far  as  Mill  Bmok.  After  his  de- 
cease, the  estate  was  owned  and  occupied  for  several  years  by 
Thomas  Stevens,  who  kept  a  hotel  in  the  house,  to  the  rear  part 
of  which  he  added  a  hall,  long  used  for  public  purposes. 

John  W.  Stiles,  from  Templeton,  about  1820,  purchased 
this  estate,  and  resided  in  this  dwelling  till  he  disposed  of  the 
property  to  the  railroad  company,  and  kept  a  store  for  many 
years  in  company  with  the  late  Dea.  Benjamin  Butman,  in  the 
building  south  of  his  residence,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the 
owners  preceding  him  for  a  store  or  shop.  This  dwelling,  re- 
moved when  the  first  Universalist  meeting-house  was  built  on 
its  site  in  1843,  now  stands  on  the  south  side  of  Mechanic 
street,  the  second  house  east  of  Spring  street.     The  hall  part, 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester,  291 

added  by  Mr.  Stevens,  now  stands  on  Norwich  street,  opposite 
the  old  depot. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad  in 
1835,  the  land  on  which  the  company  erected  their  passenger 
station  in  Worcester,  tlie  first  depot  built  in  New  England,  out 
of  Boston,  was  purchased  of  John  W.  Stiles,  the  purchase  ex- 
tending up  to  Main  street,  and  including  the  buildings  just 
mentioned. 

On  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  streets,  stood  the 
dwelling  of  Paniel  Denny,  from  Leicester,  wlio  had  in  the  rear 
of  his  residence  a  card  manufactory  started  by  him  in  1798. 
The  old  buildings  were  removed  when  the  brick  block  now 
standing  on  their  site,  was  erected  by  George  l^owen  in  1842, 
and  the  old  factory  building  now  stands  on  Norwich  street, 
having  been  occupied  for  several  years  past  for  a  bowling  saloon 
and  other  purposes. 

On  the  north  side  of  Mechanic  street,  east  of  the  Denny 
estate,  were  several  old  dwellings,  removed  when  the  Norwich 
railroad  was  opened,  and  occupied  respectively  by  the  carpenter 
and  builder,  Wentworth  ;  Smith  &  Western,  painters  ;  and 
Winslow  Dalrymple.  Next  east  of  the  latter  came  the  re- 
sidence of  Capt.  Simeon  Duncan,  afterwards  of  Capt.  Sam- 
uel Graves,  the  old  dwelling,  a  very  ancient  one,  now  stand- 
ing on  the  east  side  of  Bridge  street. 

The  First  Railroad  Opening. 
The  old  Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad  was  the  earliest  one 
incorporated  in  Massachusetts,  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
country,  its  charter  bearing  date,  June  23,  1831.  The  first 
single  track  of  forty-four  miles  was  completed  in  about  four 
years,  so  as  to  be  opened  for  public  travel,  July  4,  1835,  a 
grand  celebration  of  the  event  taking  place  in  Worcester,  on 
Monday,  July  6,  following,  under  the  direction  of  a  committee 
of  arrangements  of  whom  the  late  Chief  Justice  Charles  Allen 
was  chairman.  An  excursion  train  of  twelve  cars,  (such  as 
they  then  were,)  propelled  by  two  locomotives,  bringing  the 
directors  and  some  three  hundred  stockholders  of  the  road, 
from  Boston,  arrived  here  at  one  o'clock   in   the  afternoon,  af- 


292  Reminiscences  oj    Worcester. 

ter  a  ride  of  three  hours  and  a  quarter,  and  were  escorted  from 
the  depot  to  the  Town  Hall  by  a  numerous  procession  of  citi- 
zens, headed  by  the  committee  of  arrangements,  and  preceded 
by  the  Worcester  Light  Infantry,  under  command  of  Col. 
Charles  H.  Geer,  the  whole  being  under  the  chief  marshalship 
of  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  marshal  of  the  day.  Tables  spread 
with  an  inviting  array  of  eatables  occupied  the  lower,  and  one 
of  the  upper  halls  of  the  town  house,  and  all  were  soon  filled 
by  the  invited  guests  and  prominent  citizens  of  [^the  town  and 
vicinity.  Ex-Gov.  Levi  Lincoln  presided  with  his  accustomed 
ability  and  grace  over  the  festivities  of  the  occasion,  and  open- 
ed the  speaking  exercises  with  one  of  his  most  eloquent  ad- 
dresses. Speeches  in  response  to  toasts  were  also  made  by 
Governors  John  Davis  and  Edward  Everett,  Chief  Justice  Arte- 
mas  Ward,  Hon.  Alexander  H.  Everett,  Hon.  Julius  Rock- 
well of  Pittsfield,  Hon.  George  Bliss  of  Springfield,  Hon. 
Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  and  other  distinguished  guests 
from  abroad.  Of  those  mentioned  above.  Gen.  Heard,  Judge 
Rockwell  and  Col.  Quincy  still  survive. 

The  Old  Depot. 
The  first  portion  of  the  old  Foster  street  depot'was  built -J^y 
Horatio  N.  Tower  in  June,  1835,  the  carpenters  who  worked 
for  him  on  the  job.  being  Tilly  Raymond  and  Martin  Harring- 
ton. The  frame  was  raised  May  31.  It  stood  originally  nearly 
on  the  site  (a  little  south)  of  the  present  Worcester  Bank 
Block,  there  being  a  passage-way  between  the  west  end  of  it 
and  the  two  buildings  previously  belonging  to  Mr.  Stiles,  which 
were  moved  off  when  the  first  Universalist  Church  was  built. 
This  first  depot  (the  central  portion  of  the  one  on  Foster  street 
just  abandoned)  was  100  feet  long  by  40  wide,  and  attached  to 
the  east  end  of  it  was  an  ell,  68  feet  long  by  30  wide,  used  for 
many  years  past  as  a  storage  house  for  passenger  cars.  The 
front  part  of  the  present  or  second  depot,  (60  feet  front  on  Nor- 
wich street  by  72  feet  long  on  Foster  street,  with  22  feet  posts,) 
was  built  by  H.  N.  Tower  and  Tilly  Raymond,  begun  Oct.  22, 
1839,  and  finislied  the  following  spring.  The  contract  price 
was  ^1000.     The  main  part  of  the  firr^t  depot,  (100  by  40  feet) 


Beminiscences  of    Worcester.  2^3 

was  tliGii  moved  down  from  its  original  sito,  and  attached  to  tlio 
east  end  of  the  new  strncture,  17  feet  in  length  of  new  material 
behig  added  between  the  two  structures  to  join  them.  At  the 
same  time,  an  addition  of  forty  feet  in  length  by  45  feet  wide 
was  added  to  the  east  end  of  the  whole,  making  the  total  length 
of  the  Foster  street  depot,  from  the  front  on  Norwich  street 
to  the  east  end  of  the  train  house,  229  feet. 

The  occasion  of  changing  the  location  of  the  depot,  in  1839 
and  1840,  four  years  after  the  first  building  was  constructed, 
was,  in  order  to  have  the  trains  of  the  Norwich  and  Worcester 
railroad,  then  about  being  completed,  run  into  the  same  build- 
ing. This  Norwich  and  Worcester  depot,  (built  by  Messrs. 
Tower  and  Raymond,  and  attached  to  the  south  end  or  south 
side  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  depot,)  was  begun  Dec. 
14,  and  finished  during  the  spring  of  1840.  The  contract 
price  for  the  building,  150  feet  long  by  75  feet  wide,  with  an 
ell  75  by  36  feet  on  the  soutli  end,  making  its  extreme  length 
225  feet,  was  85500.  The  extreme  length  of  the  whole  build- 
ing on  Norwich  street,  including  the  60  feet  front  of  tlie  old 
Boston  and  Worcester,  is  285  feet. 

The  first  engine  house  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  railroad, 
used  until  the  consolidation  with  the  Western  railroad  in  1867, 
was  built  by  H.  N.  Tower,  Tilly  Raymond  and  S.  D.  Hardhig, 
and  stood  in  the  ano;le  made  by  the  train  houses  of  tlie  Foster 
street  depot,  and  was  used  by  both  the  Boston  and  AVorcester, 
and  Norwich  and  Worcester  roads,  until  the  latter  in  1852 
built  theu'  present  engine  liouso  in  the  rear  of  the  freight  house 
on  Park  street. 

The  first  person  in  charge  of  the  Foster  street  station  was 
Mr.  Dennis,  succeeded  in  1837  by  Edwin  Moody,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded as  ticket  agent  in  1810  by  R.  P.  Angier,  and  as  station 
agent  in  1858  by  Abram  Firth.  Mr.  Angier  was  succeeded  as 
ticket  agent  in  May,  1852,  by  Calvin  Dyer,  wlio  had  thus  near- 
ly completed  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  service  as  ticket  agent 
of  tl\e  dift'erent  roads  entering  the  Foster  street  depot, 
when  it  was  finally  abandoned  Feb.  21,  1877;  the  Worcester 
and  Nasliua,  and  Norwich  and  Worcester  roads  being  tlic  last 
to  run  their  trains  into  it,  the  Boston  and  Albany  road   having 


294  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

ceased  using  it  for  their  trains,  Sept.  4,  1875,  and  the  Boston, 
Bane  and  Gardner  road,  June  10,  1876.  Mr.  Dyer  had  pre- 
viously run  as  conductor  on  the  Boston  and  Worcester  road  six 
years.     He  is  now  engaged  at  the  Union  depot. 

Abram  Firth,  afterwards  superintendent  of  the  Boston  and 
Worcester  raih-oad,  who  succeeded  Edwin  Moody  as  agent  of 
the  road  at  Worcester  in  1858,  acted  in  that  capacity  until 
1866,  from  wliich  time  Walter  H.  Barnes,  (now  assistant  super- 
intendent of  the  Boston  and  Albany  road,)  was  station  agent 
at  Worcester  until  the  consolidation  with  the  Western  railroad, 
in  1867,  since  which  time  Henry  P.  Nichols,  who  had  previous- 
ly been  agent  of  tlie  Western  railroad  for  twenty  years,  has 
been  agent  of  the  consolidated  road. 

The  first  conductors  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  railroad 
were  Wm.  F.  Harnden,  (originator  of  Havnden's  express,) 
Caleb  S.  Fuller,  Jos.  H.  Moore,  Thos.  Tucker  and  G.  S.  Howe. 

The  first  cars  were  small  coach-like  affairs,  not  over  20  feet 
long,  of  capacity  to  hold  not  more  than  a  dozen  persons  each, 
in  two  compartments  entered  by  a  side  door,  with  one  row 
of  seats  around  the  inside.  The  conductors  passed  from  one 
to  another  by  a  railing  around  the  outside. 

Jan.  1,  1836,  the  board  of  directors  arranged  with  David  T. 
Brigham  to  have  a  man  occupy  one  seat  in  the  "  Belvedere 
car,"  and  carry  a  box  2  1-2  by  1  1-2  feet  in  size  in  the  baggage 
car,  for  express  matter,  at  the  charge  of  $8  per  week,  this  be- 
ing the  first  "  express"  arrangement  made.  He  did  not  long 
continue,  however,  the  conductors  doing  all  this  kind  of  busi- 
ness until  Mr.  Leonard  started  his  express  in  1840. 

Alvin  Adams,  father  of  the  old  "  Adams  Express  Company," 
now  residing  in  Watertown,  started  the  first  railroad  and  steam- 
boat express  from  Boston  to  New  York  through  Worcester  and 
Norwich,  at  the  opening  of  the  Norwich  and  Worcester  railroad 
in  the  spring  of  1840.  Wm.  F.  Harnden's  New  York  and  Bos- 
ton  Express,  started  in  1839,  was  by  way  of  Providence. 

The  veteran  express  proprietor  of  Worcester,  Samuel  Smith 
Leonard,  started  the  first  regular  accommodation  express  be- 
tween Boston  and  Worcester,  in  September,  1840,  the  previous 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  295 

enterprise  of  David  T.  Brigliam  in  this  line  not  proving  suf- 
ficiently successful  to  establish  it.  Mr.  Leonard  had  been 
previously  conductor  on  this  road  nearly  a  year.  He  sold  out 
to  the  Adams  express  company  in  1862. 

William  H.  Hovey,  (son  of  William  Hovey,)  for  twenty  years 
past  of  Springfield,  but  for  many  years  engineer  on  the  Boston 
and  Worcester  railroad  after  its  opening,  ran  the  first  locomo- 
tive, (a  Stephenson  engine,)  on  that  road  out  of  Boston,  in 
1834,  before  the  road  was  finished  farther  west  than  Brighton. 
The  man  sent  over  with  it  from  England,  proving  incompetent 
to  manage  it,  it  was  successfully  done  by  Mr.  Hovey. 

Western  Railroad   Opening. 

The  Western  railroad  was  completed  from  Worcester  to 
Springfield,  and  regular  trains  began  running  Oct.  1,  1839,  a 
little  over  six  hours  being  occupied  between  Boston  and  Spring- 
field, including  stops  at  seventeen  other  places  besides  Worces- 
ter. The  first  conductors  were  James  Parker  and  Charles  AV. 
Rice  and  Joseph  T.  Turner  of  Worcester.  Erastus  Knowlton 
of  Worcester  was  one  of  the  first  baggage  masters  on  this  road. 
He  was  father  of  Samuel  Knowlton,  now  baggage  master  at  the 
Union  depot.  James  Parker,  who  had  previously  been  general 
stage  agent  for  many  years  in  Worcester,  officiated  as  conductor 
for  thirty  years.  Oliver  Harrington  was  the  first  station  agent 
and  ticket  master  at  the  Western  depot,  succeeded  as  ticket 
agent  by  Truman  G.  Bancroft,  and  as  station  agent  by  H.  P. 
Nichols.  Maj.  E.  A.  Harkness  succeeded  Mr.  Bancroft  as 
ticket  agent,  followed  successively  by  George  F.  Whiting,  Adam 
L.  Harrington  and  Justin  E.  Wood :  the  latter,  the  present 
ticket-agent  for  all  the  roads,  has  officiated  as  ticket  agent 
about  twenty  years.  A  public  celebration  of  this  opening  took 
place  in  Springfield,  Oct.  3.  The  extension  to  Albany  was 
completed  in  1841. 

The  first  depot  of  the  Western  railroad,  at  Washington 
Square,  built  in  1839,  and  afterwards  enlarged,  gave  place  to 
the  present  Union  depot  in  1875,  when  the  old  structure  was 
removed  to  its  present  location  on  the  corner  of  Vernon  and 
Water  streets,  where  it  is  occupied  for  stores,  <fec. 


20G  EGminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Norwich  and  Worcester  Railroad  Opening. 

The  Norwich  and  Worcester  raUroad  was  completed,  and  the 
trains  first  began  running  reguLarly  over  the  whole  line,  April 
1,  1840.  Until  1853,  when  the  freiglit  house  on  Park  street 
was  built,  its  freight  accommodations  were  confined  to  the 
south  wing  of  the  old  Foster  street  station,  or  that  part  of  it 
fronting  on  Mechanic  street,  and  the  switching  was  done  chief- 
ly by  horse  power.  Edwin  Moody  was  freight  and  station 
agent  of  this  road  from  its  opening  until  1818,  wlieu  he  was 
succeeded  by  John  H.  Knight  and  Ira  Wood  till  1851.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Norwich  road  was  established  the  first  through 
railroad  and  steamboat  line  between  Boston  and  New  York, 
which  soon  became  so  popular,  the  first  through  conductor 
over  the  route  being  Thomas  Tucker,  afterwards  landlord  of 
the  "  American  House"  and  "  Lincoln  House."  He  alternated 
as   conductor   with  Joseph  H.  Moore. 

Charles  S.  Turner  was  Worcester  agent  of  i\\Q  Norwich  and 
Worcester  railroad  for  fifteen  years  from  1851,  until  his  ap- 
pointment to  his  present  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Wor- 
cester and  Nashua  railroad  in  1866.  Wm.  H.  Turner,  now 
superintendent  of  the  New  Haven  and  Willimantic  (Conn.) 
railroad,  succeeded  his  brother  as  agent  of  the  Norwich  and 
Worcester  road  from  1866  to  1873,  and  E.  E.  Andrews  lias  of- 
ficiated since  the  latter  date. 

Providence  and  Worcester  R.  R.  Opening. 
The  Providence  and  Worcester  railroad  was  completed,  and 
trains  began  running  Oct.  25,  1847,  when  the  first  train  over 
it  from  Worcester  left  the  Norwich  depot  at  7  1-2  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  in  charge  of  Conductors  John  E.  Taft  and  Wm.  H.  Jourdan. 
A  grand  celebration  of  the  opening  of  this  road  took  place  in 
Worcester,  on  Thursday,  Nov.  4,  1847.  A  numerous  party  in- 
cluding; the  directors  and  officers  of  the  road  from  Providence 
came  up  in  an  excursion  train,  arriving  here  at  11  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  after  two  and  one  half  hours'  ride,  and  were  escorted  around 
the  town,  by  a  committee  of  our  own  citizens  in  company 
with  the  officials  of  the  other  roads  centering  here,  to  the  Town 
Hall,  where  a  large  number  of  citizens  of  Worcester  had  met  to 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  297 

receive  them.  Here,  Ex-Gov.  John  Davis,  in  behalf  of  tlie  citi- 
zens of  the  "  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth,"  welcomed  the  vis- 
itors in  an  eloquent,  congratulatory  address.  A  response 
followed  by  Mayor  Thomas  M.  Burgess  of  Providence.  The 
company  were  tlien  marshalled  by  Hon.  John  W.  Lincoln, 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  arrangements  of  Worcester,  to 
Brinley  Hall,  where  dinner  was  provided  by  Messrs.  Tucker 
&  Bonney  of  the  American  House.  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln  presided 
with  his  accustomed  ability  and  grace,  aided  by  the  following 
vice  presidents :  Gov.  John  Davis,  Judges  Thomas  Kinnicutt, 
Emory  Washburn  and  Charles  Allen,  and  Hon.  Stephen  Salis- 
bury. At  this  august  banquet,  President  John  Barstow  of  tlie 
Providence  railroad  sat  upon  Gov.  Lincoln's  right,  and  Pre- 
sident Nathan  Hale  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  railroad  upon 
his  left ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wayland,  president  of  Brown 
University,  sat  at  the  right  hand  of  Gov.  Davis,  and  Mayor 
Burgees  of  Providence  at  his  left.  After  an  eloquent  address 
of  welcome  by  Gov.  Lincoln,  speeches  followed  by  President 
John  Barstow  of  the  Providence  and  Worcester  railroad,  U.  S. 
Senator  James  F.  Simmons  of  Rhode  Island,  Mayor  Burgess  of 
Providence,  President  Wayland  and  Professor  Gammell  of 
Brown  University,  President  Nathan  Halo  of  the  Boston  and 
Worcester  railroad,  Hon.  George  Bliss  of  Springfield  for  tiie 
^'  Western  railroad,"  Judge  Charles  Allen  for  the  Boston  and 
Providence  railroad.  Judge  Thomas  Kinnicutt  for  the  alumni 
of  Brown  University,  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury  for  the  "town  of 
Worcester,"  and  by  Hon.  Wm.  Jackson  of  Newton,  John  Wright 
of  Lowell,  Gov.  Davis,  Judge  Washburn,  and  E.  H.  Derby  of 
Boston,  who  read  a  letter  from  Mayor  Quincy. 

The  Providence  trains  continued  to  run  to  and  from  the 
Norwich  section  of  the  old  Foster  street  depot  for  about  a  year, 
when,  on  account  of  a  disagreement  concerning  the  joint  use  of 
the  old  turn-table,  used  in  common  for  so  many  years  by  the 
Boston  and  Worcester,  and  Norwich  and  Worcester  railroads, 
the  Providence  and  Worcester  company  used  the  east  end  of 
their  old  freight-house  building  on  Greet  street  for  a  passenger 
depot,  until  their  new  brick  passenger  depot  was  built  about 
1854.  Their  old  freight  depot  has  since  been  enlarged  to 
28 


298  Beminiscences  of  Worcester. 

double  its  former  capacity,  and  their  new  brick  passenger  sta- 
tion, abandoned  Feb.  lO,  1877,  wlien  tlieir  trains  began  to  run 
into  the  Union  depot  at  Washington  Square  will  soon  be  need- 
ed to  accommodate  their  increasing  freight  business.  The 
Worcester  agents  of  this  road  (in  cliarge  of  their  depot  and 
other  interests  here)  have  been  :  E.  S.  Jackson,  Isaac  H. 
South  wick,  (afterwards  superintendent,)  Wm.  H.  Jourdan, 
and  A.  E.  Quackenbos,  the  latter  having  officiated  since  1863, 
besides  seven  years  previous  connection  witii  the  road  as 
clerk.  The  oldest  conductors  on  this  road  are  John  E.  Taft, 
Avho  will  complete  his  thirtietli  anniversary  of  service  in  Octo- 
ber next,  having  run  ever  since  the  opening  with  the  exception 
of  a  brief  interval,  and  William  Capron,  wlio  has  run  continu- 
ously from  April,  1850,  besides  two  years  previous  service  as 
baggage-master. 

W^ORCESTER    AND    NaSHUA    R.    R.    OPENING. 

The  Worcester  and  Nashua  railroad  was  opened  Decenil)er 
18,  1818,  using  the  old  Foster  street  depot  till  Fob.  14,  1877, 
when  tlieir  trains  began  running  to  and  from  the  Union  station. 
The  first  conductors  were  John  C.  Stiles,  Wm.  Leofgaie  and 
Cliarles  Tarbell.  Lyman  Brooks  was  conductor  twenty- seven 
years  from  April  1,  1819,  to  July  1,  1876,  when  he  resigned  to 
assume  his  present  position  as  superintendent  of  the  Union  de- 
pot. Aaron  King  was  conductor  twenty  years  from  October  1, 
1852,  to  October  1,  1873,  when  he  became  general  agent  of  the 
Nashua  and  Rochester  road.  He  was  conductor  three  years 
on  tlie  New  London  (Ct.)  and  Palmer  road,  from  1849  to  1852. 
Waite  M.  Benedict  lias  been  conductor  since  1870,  and  Charles 
H.  Hurlburt  and  William  Mitchell  since  1873.  Wm.  A. 
Wheeler  was  superintending  agent  and  builder  of  the  road  at 
the  beoinnino'. 

o  o 

The  presidents  of  the  Worcester  and  Nashua  railroad  have 
been  from  among  the  most  distinguised  citizens  of  Worcester,  as 
follows :  Gov.  John  Davis,  who  resigned  when  he  was 
elected  L^nited  States  Senator  ;  Judges  Thomas  Kinnicutt  and 
Rliny  Merrick;  Hon.  Alexander  DeWitt,  afterwards  member 
of  Congress  ;  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury,  George   T.   Rice   and 


lleminiscences  of    Worcester.  liCO 

F.  H.  Kiiuiicutt.  Mr.  Rice  served  twelve  years,  and  F.  H.  Kin- 
iiicut  lias  officiated  lor  eleven  years,  since  the  decease  of  Mr. 
Rice  in  1866.  The  superintendents  of  this  road  have  been  : 
J.  W.  Stovvell  to  1854  ;  George  W.  Bentley,  (now  superintend- 
ent of  the  New  London  Northern  railroad,)  twelve  years  to 
1866  ;  and  Charles  S,  Turner,  eleven  years  to  the  present  time. 
Timothy  W.  Hammond  has  been  clerk  and  treasurer  since  July 
23, 1849.  Since  November,  1874,  when  the  Nashua  and  Roches- 
ter railroad  was  opened,  trains  have  run  through  to  Portland, 
Mo.  Direct  through  connection  with  New  York  both  by  rail 
and  boat  is  made  over  both  the  Norwich  and  Worcester,  and 
Providence  and  Worcester  railroads. 

Fitch  BURG  and    Worcester   Railroad. 

The  Fitchburg  and  Worcester  railroad  (fourteen  miles  long- 
between  Fitchburg  and  Sterling  Junction  with  the  Worcester 
and  Nashua  road,)  was  first  opened  Feb.,  1850,  through  the 
enterprise  of  its  first  president  ai.d  suijerintendent,  Dr.  C.  W. 
Wilder  of  Leominster,  succeeded  by  Col.  Ivers  Phillips  till  the 
consolidation  with  the  Boston,  Clinton  and  Fitchburg  road  in 
1866,  when  H.  A.  Blood  of  Fitchburg  became  superintendent, 
succeeded  in  LS72  by  S.  A.  Webber.  Henry  H.  Penniman  has 
boon  baggagj-mastor  and  conductor  of  this  road  since  1852. 

Boston,  Barre  and  Gardner   Railroad   Opening. 

The  Boston,  Barre  and  Gardner  railroad  was  opened  for  pub- 
lic travel  between  Worcester  and  Gardner,  Sept.  4,  1871,  and 
the  extension  to  Wincliendon,  Jan.  5,  1874.  The  trains  run 
to  and  from  the  old  Foster  street  depot  till  June  6,  1876,  when 
they  began  to  use  the  Union  station.  The  presidents  of  this 
road  have  been  Col.  Ivers  Phillips  and  Hon.  Giuery  Twichell, 
and  the  superintendents  have  been  Col.  Phillips,  T.  B.  Sar- 
geant.  Col.  I.  N.  R.)ss,  and  H.  M.  Witter,  formerly  for  many 
years  general  ticket  agent  of  the  Worcester  and  Nashua  rail- 
road. Wm.  E.  Starr  has  been  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  road 
from  the  beginning.  Direct  connection  with  Concord,  N.  H., 
and  at  otlicr  points  in  th<!t  direction  will  soon  be  opened 
by  the  extension  of  the  Monadnock  railroad  to  Hillsborough- 
Bridge,  N.  H. 


nilNTERS  AND  NEWSPAPERS, 


CHAPTER    XIX 


Isaiah  Thomas  and  His  Distinguished  Apprentices. 

As  Worcester  \vas  a  grand  centre  of  patriotic  operations  in 
revolutionary  times,  one  hundred  years  ago  and  more,  and  the 
place  whence  issued  those  appeals  which  fired  the  heart  of  the 
country,  through  the  utterances  of  the  Bigelows  and  others  on 
the  various  committees  of  that  period,  and  through  the  columns 
of  "The  Massachusetts  Spy,"  in  which  office  the  first  printing- 
was  done  for  the  Provincial  Congress,  a  brief  notice  of  the 
founder  and  conductor  of  that  organ  of  the  patriotic  cause 
tlirougli  those  perilous  times,  and  of  some  of  his  distinguished 
apprentices  in  the  art  of  printing,  may  be  appropriate  in  this 
connection.  Conspicuous  among  those  who  regularly  grad- 
uated at  the  printing  business,  in  the  Spy  office,  under  Isaiah 
Thomas,  were  Hon.  Timothy  Bigelow,  son  of  Col.  Timothy 
Bigelow,  and  grandson  of  Daniel  Bigelow,  (noticed  on  page 
45  ;)  Hon.  Benjamin  Russell,  afterwards  of  the  '•  Columbiari 
Centinel,"  Boston,  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, Senate  and  Executive  Council  of  Massachusetts, 
and  holding  other  prominent  positions,  who  died  Jan.  4,  1845, 
aged  83,  his  wife  being  a  daugiiter  of  the  deputy  sheriff,  Lem- 
uel Rice,  who  kept  the  old  stone  jail  and  jail  tavern  from  179U 
to  1799  ;  Isaiah  Thomas,  Jr.,  (father  of  Judge  Benjamin  F. 
Thomas,)  who  succeeded  his  father  in  business  ;  Rev.  Leonard 
AVorcester,  brother  of  Rev.  Dr.  N^oah  Worcester  ;  and  Charles 
Tappan,  a  distinguished  bookseller  of  Boston,  who  died  about 
a  year  ago,  aged  over  ninety,  a  brother  of  Arthur  and  Lewis 
Tappan,  distinguished  merchants  and  anti-slavery   pioneers  of 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  301 

forty  five  years  ago,  and  also  brother  of  Benjamin  Tappan, 
United  States  Senator  from  Ohio.  Amorig  other  graduates 
from  this  same  oflice,  wlio  worked  for  Isaiali  Thomas,  were 
Nathaniel  Maccarty,  (son  of  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,)  and 
Daniel  Grcenleaf,  son  of  William  Greenleaf,  sheriff  of  the  coun- 
ty from  1778  to  his  death  in  1788,  and  father  of  the  late  Wil- 
liam Greenleaf  of  Worcester.  Hon.  Timotliy  Bigelow  and 
Benjamin  Russell  worked  together  in  the  printing  office,  and 
ever  remained  warm  and  attached  friends  during  their  long 
service  together  in  the  State  councils. 

The  First  Worcester  Printer. 

IsAiAii  Thomas,  LL.  D.,  born  in  Boston,  Jan.  19,  1740,  was  the  youngest 
of  live  children  of  Moses  and  Fidelity  (Grant)  Thomas,  and  served  an  eleven 
years'  apprenticeship,  from  the  age  of  G  to  17,  with  Zachariah  Fowle,  on 
old  Middle  street,  in  the  provincial  town  of  Boston,  the  boy  being  so  small, 
when  he  began  to  set  type,  that  he  had  to  stand  upon  a  stool  eighteen  inches 
high  to  reach  his  "case."  Graduating  at  the  early  age  of  17,  he  went  to 
Nova  Scotia,  where  he  had  charge  of  both  the  printing  and  editing  of  the 
"  Halifax  Gazette"  until  his  rebellious  criticisms  of  the  British  "  stampact" 
policy  necessitated  his  leaving,  and  after  trying  his  fortunes  for  a  while  in 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  Charleston,  S.  C,  he  returned 
in  1770,  at  the  age  of  21,  to  Boston,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
former  master,  Fowle,  in  company  with  whom  he  began  the  publication  of 
"The  Massachusetts  Spy,"  the  first  number  of  which,  a  little  sheet,  seven 
inches  by  ten,  was  issued  "  Tuesday,  July  17,  1770."  This  was  published 
for  three  montlis  every  other  day,  soon  after  which  Thomas  l>ecame  sole  pro- 
prietor, and  changed  it  to  a  semi-weekly,  and  March  7,  1771,  to  a  weekly, 
with  the  same  heading  the  paper  has  ever  since  borne.  The  character  and 
principles  of  the  proprietor  and  manager  made  it  the  organ,  in  Massachusetts, 
of  the  patriot  cause,  both  preceding  and  during  the  revolutionary  struggle. 

As  Thomas  strenuously  resisted,  during  the  progress  of  the  controversy  be- 
tween the  Whigs  and  the  Tories  previous  to  the  revolution,  all  the  overtures 
made  by  the  fiiends  of  the  British  government  to  induce  him  to  conduct  the 
paper  in  their  interest,  an  attempt  was  then  made  to  force  a  compliance,  or 
to  deprive  him  of  his  press  and  tjpes.  Many  and  severe  were  the  contests  he 
had  with  the  executive  authorities  for  articles  published  in  criticism  of  the 
measures  of  the  govermnent,  infringing  upon  colonial  and  individual  rights. 
The  grand  juries  of  Suffolk  county  failing  to  indict  him  for  libel  in  obedience  to 
behests  of  the  Attorney-General  appointed  by  the  crown,  attempts  were  made 
to  procure  bills  against  him  by  the  grand  juries  of  the  adjoining  counties,  on 
the  ground  that  the  paper  circulated  in  those  counties  ;  but  the  fallacy  of 
such  a  procedure  soon  became  too  apparent  to  be  long  persisted  in.  To 
vent  the  malignity  of  the  tories,  some  of  the  British  soldierly  openly  threat- 
ened the  printer  of  the  paper  with  violence.  For  these,  among  other  reasons, 
Thomas  was  induced,  as  the  contest  became  hotter  and  hotter  in  the  month 
of  April,  1775,  to  pack  up,  privately,  his  press  and  types,  and  send  them, 
in  the  night  time,  over  Charles  River,  to  Charlestown,  whence  they  were  con- 
veyed to  Worcester,  a  few  days  before  the  battle  (jf  Lexington.  Gen.  Joseph 
^Varren  and  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  in  behalf  of  the  General  Committee  of 
Safety,  assisted  Thomas  personally  in  getting   his   press   and    types   across 


302  Eeinlnlscences  of    Worcester. 

Charles  River,  and  in  starting  them  safely  on  the  road  to  Worcester,  Thom- 
as remaining  himself  in  Boston  until  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the 
battle. 

On  the  night  of  April  18,  1775,  it  \^'as  discovered  that  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  British  troops  were  embarking  in  boats  on  the  river,  near  the  common, 
with  the  manifest  design  to  destroy  the  stores  collected  by  the  provincials  at 
Concord,  eighteen  miles  from  Boston  ;  and  Thomas  was  engaged,  with  oth- 
ers, in  giving  the  alarm.  At  day  break  on  the  morning  of  the  famous  19th 
of  April,  1775,  he  crossed  over  to  Charlestown,  went  to  Lexington,  and  join- 
ed the  provincial  militia,  musket  in  hand,  in  opposing  the  king's  troops. 
On  the  20th,  he  went  to  Worcester,  and  opened  a  printing  house  with  such 
materials  as  he  could  procure  in  addition  to  the  press  and  types  onveyed 
from  Boston,  and  re-commenced  the  jDublication  of  his  newspaper,  "  The 
Massachusetts  Spy,"  the  first  number  of  which  appeared  from  the  press  in 
Worcester,  May  3,  1775.  This  was  the  first  printing  done  in  any  inhmd 
town  in  New  England.  The  provincial  Congress,  then  assembled  at  AV'ater- 
town,  at  first  proposed  that  Thomas'  press  should  be  removed  to  that  place  ; 
but,  as  all  concerns  of  a  public  nature  were  then  in  a  state  of  derangement, 
it  was  finally  determined  that  his  press  should  remain  at  Worcester;  and 
that  post-riders  should  be  established  to  facilitate  intercourse  between  that 
place,  Watertown,  and  Cambridge;  and  at  Worcester  he  continued  to  print 
lor  Congress,,  until  a  press  was  established  at  Watertown  and  at  Cambridge. 

Having  been  an  eye  witness  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Thomas  published 
an  account  of  it,  reported  by  himself,  in  the  first  issue  of  his  paper  at  AVor- 
cester. 

To  show  the  interest  maintained  in  behalf  of  the  conductor  of  the  "  Spy" 
by  the  General  Committee  of  Safety,  after  his  expulsion  from  Boston,  it  may 
l)e  stated  that  John  Hancock,  as  chairman,  gave  Isaiah  Thomas  an  order, 
dated  April  26, 1775,  on  that  committee  for  supplies  for  his  printing  estab- 
lishment, specifying  "fifty  reams  of  crown  printing  paper,  forty  reams  of 
demi  do.,  twenty  reams  of  foolscap  do.,  and  five  reams  of  WTiting  paper," 
these  supplies  being  granted  for  the  reason  stated  that  thij  necessities  of 
"  the  public  service"  required  it  to  be  done. 

As  early  as  February  previous,  Thomas  had  been  solicited  by  the  Whigs  of 
Worcester  to  establish  a  newspaper  here,  and  proposals  were  issued  for  sub- 
scribers to  the  same,  so  that  the  crisis  in  April  found  him  partially  in  readi- 
ness for  his  change  of  base  from  Boston  to  Worcester,  as  he  would  undoubt- 
edly have  established  a  paper  here,  whether  he  removed  that  one  from  Bos- 
ton or  not.  In  1773,  he  established  the  first  newspaper  and  printing  office  in 
Newburyport,  with  which  he  was  connected  for  several  years,  in  addition  to 
liis  printing  operations  in  Boston,  Walpole,  X.  H.,  and  other  places,  includ- 
ing the  "  Farmer's  Journal"  printing  office  established  by  him  at  Brook- 
field,  ]Mass.,  afterwards  continued  by  Ebenezer  Merriam.  At  one  period 
Thomas  had,  under  his  personal  direction  and  that  of  his  partners,  sixteen 
presses  in  constant  motion,  doing  a  larger  business  in  this  line  than  any  oth- 
er person  in  the  United  States.  Besides  this,  he  was  book-seller,  book-bind- 
er, and  manufacturer  of  paper,  starting  at  Quinsigamond  Village  in  1794, 
for  his  own  accommodation,  the  paper  mills  long  managed  by  him,  after- 
wards carried  on  by  Elijah  Burbank,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Quinsigamond 
Iron  Works.  His  publishing  business  included  the  printing  of  numerous 
editions  of  the  Bible,  of  which  he  issued  more  copies  than  any  other  person 
of  his  time  as  well  as  most  of  the  standard  historical,  geographical  and 
scientific  works  of  that  period.  He  founded,  in  1812,  the  American  Anti- 
quarian Society,  to  which  he  gave  his  own  voluminous  collections  of  books, 
and  other  valuable  materials,  as  a  nucleus  of  the  present  vast  library.  He 
gave  the  land,  and  erected  thereon  the  first  building  for  their  accommodation, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  303 

on  Summer  street,  in  1820,  at  his  own  expense.  He  was  the  first  president 
of  the  society,  serving;  in  that  capacity  for  nineteen  years,  until  his  decease, 
April  4,  1831,  ao;ed  82.  He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1814,  and  that  of  LL.  D.  from  Alleghany  College  in 
1818. 

Soon  after  he  came  to  Worcester,  Dr.  Thomas  %vas  appointed,  Novemher 
15,  1775,  the  postmaster  here,  by  his  brother  printer,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
who  was  postmaster  general  under  the  authority  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress at  Philadelphia.  Thomas  continued  to  hold  the  office  of  postmaster  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  until  the  appointment  of  James  A\'ilson  in  1801. 
Before  the  introduction  of  staging,  in  1782,  but  one  mail  each  week  was 
sent  or  received,  which  was  conveyed  on  horseback,  east  and  w^st ;  Dr. 
Thomas  opening  the  route  north  by  sending  his  apprentice,  Nathaniel  Mac- 
carty,  to  Fitchhurg  every  Wednesday,  the  day  of  the  publication  of  the  Spy, 
with  letters  and  papers  for  that  section  of  the  county. 

In  1802,  Dr.  ThomavS  relinquished  his  printing  business  to  his  son,  Isaiali 
Thomas,  Jr.,  but  did  not  himself,  as  it  plainly  appears,  remain  idle,  after- 
Avards  devoting  himself  almost  wholly  to  matters  of  a  kindred  public  nature. 
His  "  History  of  Printing,"  in  two  large  volumes,  first  published  in  1810, 
necessitated  years  of  laborious  research. 

Isaiah  Thomas  married  Dec.  25,  1709,  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  Dill  of 
the  Isle  of  Bermuda,  and  had:  I.Mary  Anne,  born  March  27,  1772,  and 
was  three  times  married,  the  last  time,  to  Dr.  Levi  Simmons  :  2,  Isaiali,  Jr., 
born  Sept.  5,  1773,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Edward  Weld  of  Bostim, 
Avas  educated  as  a  printer,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  business,  and  lastly 
resided  in  Boston,  Avhere  he  died  June  25,  1819.  The  children  of  the  latter 
were:  1,  Mary  Eebecca,  married  Judge  Pliny  Merrick  of  Worcester;  2, 
Frances  Churcn,  born  Aug.  12,  1800,  married  Wm.  A.  Crocker  of  Taunton  ; 
3,  Augusta  Weld,  born  Aug.  1,  1801,  died  Aug.  19,  1822,  at  Taunton;  4, 
Caroline,  born  Sept.  20,  1802,  married  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  of  Taunton, 
member  of  the  33d  Congross  ;  5,  Hannah  Weld,  married  June  14,  1825, 
Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  of  Taunton,  and  died  Nov.  22,  1827  ;  6,  Isaiah, 
born  Dec.  11,  18o4,  died  Oct.  14,  1805  ;  7,  Isaiah  resided  in  New  York,  re- 
ceived an  appointment  to  a  foreign,  and  was  lost  at  sea  ;  8,  William,  mer- 
chant in  Boston  ;  9,  EdAv^-d  Weld,  born  Feb.  15,  1810,  died  Oct.  5,  1810  ; 
10,  Edward  Isaiah,  merchant  in  Ncav  York,  married  a  daughter  of  Bishop 
Brownell  of  Connecticut;  11,  Benjamin  Franklin  Thomas,  born  Feb.  12, 
1813,  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1830,  studied  laAV  at  HarAard 
University  Law  School  and  with  Judge  Pliny  Merrick  in  Worcester,  where 
he  w^as  admitted  to  practice  in  1833,  w^as  Kepresentative  in  the  General 
Court  in  1842,  Judge  of  Probate  from  1844  to  1848,  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  from  1853  to  1859,  removed  to  Boston,  and  AA'as  chosen  Re- 
presentative to  Congress  in  1861,  serving  on  the  committee  on  the  judiciary 
and  on  the  special  committee  on  the  bankrupt  law.  Judge  Thomas  is  now 
in  a  lucrative  practice  of  his  profession  in  Boston.  His  wife  is  a  daughter 
of  the  late  Dr.  John  Park  of  Worcester.  All  his  brothers  and  sisters  have 
deceased. 

Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  born  in  Hollis,  N.  H.,  January  1,  17G7,  Avas 
third  son  of  Noah  Worcester,  of  the  sixth  generation  from  AVm.  Worcester 
Avho  was  settled  pastor  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  about  1640.  The  brothers  of 
Leonard  who  entered  the  ministry,  were  :  Noah  Worcester,  D.  D.,  settled  in 
Thornton,  N.  H.,  and  distinguished  as  a  writer  and  author,  who  died  in 
Brighton,  Mass.,  in  1837,  aged  79  ;  Thomas,  settled  in  Salisbury,  N.  II.  ; 
and  Samuel  Worcester,  D.  D.,  settled  in  Fitchl)urg  and  in  Salem,  Mass.,  and 
died  in  Brainard,  Tenn.,  in  1821,  aged  51.  Rev.  Leonard  AVorcester  was 
father  of  fourteen  children,  and  of  his  six  sons,  four  were  settled  ministers, 


304  Reminiscences  of    Worcester, 

Samuel  A.,  Evarts,  Isaac  R.,  and  John  II.  ;  Leonard,  Jr.,  was  principal  of 
Newark  Academy,  Nev/  Jersey,  and  the  other  son,  Ezra  C,  was  a  doctor  in 
Thetford,  Vt.  Tlie  fother  of  these  served  a  regular  apprenticeship,  begin- 
ning in  his  eighteenth  year,  in  the  printing  office  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy, 
with  Isaiah  Thomas,  and  after  finishing  his  trade  as  a  printer,  was  for  sever- 
al  years  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Spy  for  Mr.  Thomas  during  the  absence 
of  the  latter  on  his  publishing  business  in  other  places.  In  1795,  he  was 
chosen  deacon  of  the  first  Church  (Old  South)  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
Austin  was  then  pastor.  He  subsequently  studied  theology,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  March  12,  1799,  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons  in  Frank- 
lin, Mass.  He  went  to  Peacham,  Yt.,  in  June  following,  and  after  preach- 
ing a  few  Sabbaths,  was  unanimously  invited  to  settle  there,  and  installed 
Oct.  30,  1799.  During  his  prosperous  ministry  there  of  forty  years,  (31 
years  of  that  time  the  only  pastor  in  the  place,)  531  w^ere  added  to  his 
church.  He  died  May  28,  J84G,  aged  79,  and  a  massive  granite  monument 
marks  the  place  of  his  interment  in  his  adopted  town.  Besides  his  minister- 
ial duties,  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester  was  town  clerk  of  Peacham,  Yt.,  for 
thirty-four  years,  trustee  of  the  Grammar  School  board  twenty-seven  years, 
and  president  of  that  board  for  ten  years.  Several  of  his  sermons  preached 
on  special  occasions,  have  been  published.  He  married  in  1793  for  his  first 
wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins  of  Hadley,  (sister  of 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  Austin)  ;  and  in  1820  for  his  second  wife,  Eunice 
AYoodbury  of  Salem,  Mass.,  who  survived  him  but  three  months.  In  ap- 
pearance he  was  tall  and  commanding,  and  remarkably  erect  to  the  last — a 
man  of  truly  exalted  mind. 

A  short  time  before  his  decease,  Mr.  Tappau  communicated 
to  the  Spy  the  following  interesting  reminiscence  of  the  period 
he  was  connected  therewith  : 

Worcester  in  1799. 

"  In  December,  1799,  I  first  saw  Worcester.  It  then  contained  about  two 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  they  lived  principally  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
street  running  from  Salisbury's  bridge  to  the  Old  South  meeting  liouse.  On 
the  east  side  of  the  main  street,  from  the  bridge  t%  the  back  part  of  the  Bay 
State  House  was  a  meadow,  where  I  have  often  skated.  Opposite  the  Bay 
State  House,  lived  Samuel  Brazer,  of  facetious  memory.  He  bought  a  load 
of  pine  wood,  of  a  countryman,  and  promised  to  pav  him  in  Brazer's  Avare. 
The  wood  was  tipped  up  at  Brazer's  door,  and  the  teamster  was  told  to 
take  his  choice  of  half  a  dozen  children,  in  payment.  Four  brothers,  Enoch, 
Elisha,  Marshall  and  Nahum  Flagg,  came  to  \Yorcester  from  Weston,  and 
carried  on  the  baker's  business.  They  were  remarkable  for  their  beauty  and 
correct  gentlemanly  deportment. 

The  trade  of  the  town  was  engrossed  by  Stephen  and  Samuel  Salisbury  and 
Daniel  Waldo,  and  they  did  a  large  business.  Of  what  are  now  called  manu- 
factories, there  were  no7ie,  except  Elijah  Burbank's  paper  mill  at  Quinsiga- 
mond  Yillage.  David  Curtis  did  the  blacksmithing,  Jeremiah  Stiles  the 
painting,  Jedediah  Healy  the  carpentering,  Benjamin  Butman  the  tailoring, 
and  Alpheus  Eaton  the  shoemaking  Inisiness.  Two  lawyers,  Levi  Lincoln,  the 
father  of  the  late  governor,  and  Edward  Bangs,  had  the  law  much  to  them- 
selves. Lincoln  was  called  a  democrat,  but  those  who  knew  him  best  thought 
him  to  be  just  the  opposite,  in  all  respects.  He  was  United  States  attorney 
under  Jefterson. 

The  healing  art  Avas  attended  to  mainly  by  Dr.  Green  and  his  half  dozen 
students.  They  were  daily  seen  mounted  on  horseback,  galloping  through, 
the  streets  as  if  some  one  or  more  were  in  peril.     The  preaching  was   en- 


ReminiscencGS  of  Worcester.  305 

fjrossedhjUeY.Drs.  Bancroft  and  Austin.  The  latter  wrote  frequently 
political  articles  for  the  "Spy,"  over  the  signature  ofiSulpicius,  and  Lincoln 
replied  to  him  as  a  Farmer,     The  articles  were  very  bitter  and  personal. 

I  was  a  member  of  the  "Worcester  Light  Infantry,"  and  am,  I  presume, 
now  Gov.  Lincoln  is  dead,  the  only  survivor  of  the  original  corps.  Before 
that  company  was  formed,  in  1802,  there  was  no  uniform  infantry  company 
in  Worcester  ;  and  escort  duties  were  performed  by  the  artillery,  under  Cap- 
tain Peter  Slater.  The  writer  of  this  is  past  ninety  years  of  age,  and  "served 
his  time"  in  tlie  "  Spy"  office,  on  the  hill  next  the  court  house,  with  Isaiah 
Thomas,  Jr.,  with  whom  he  was  afterwards  in  partnership. 

Charles  Tappan. 
Washington,  D.  C." 

The  ^Iassachusetts  Spy. 

When  Isaiali  Thomas  lirst  came  to  Worcester,  during  April, 
1775,  he  established  liis  printing  and  publication  office  on 
Court  Hill,  where  it  remained  till  about  1821,  excepting  at 
certain  intervals,  when  the  paper  was  temporarily  printed  and 
managed  by  other  parties,  on  lease,  for  the  owner,  while  he 
w^as  attending  to  his  other  extensive  business.  Mr.  Thomas 
made  immediate  arrangements  for  post  riders  in  all  direc- 
tions to  deliver  the  papers  in  Cambridge,  Salem,  Providence, 
Newport,  Fitch  burg,  Keene  and  Walpole,  N.  II.,  Brookfield, 
Springfield,  Hartford,  Conn.,  etc.  Messengers  left  the  print- 
ing office  at  noon  of  W^ednesday,.  the  publication  day,  and 
came  back  on  Saturday.  Nov.  10,  1775,  Mr.  Thomas  pub- 
lished an  advertisement  announcing  the  establishment  of  a 
constitutional  post  office  in  Worcester,  with  himself  as  |)0st- 
master.  The  western  mail  arrived  every  Tuesday  evening, 
and  the  eastern  eveiy  Friday  morning. 

Mr.  Thomas  announced  in  his  first  issue  in  Worcester, 
May  3,  1775,  the  following  list  of  agents  for  the  Spy,  in  the 
different  towns  in  the  county,  comprising  many  who  subse- 
quently became  among  the  most  distinguished  citizens  of 
the  time : 

Col.  Asa  Whitcomb  and  Dr.  Wm.  Dunsmore  of  Lancaster  ;  Jedediah 
Foster  of  Brookfield,  afterwards  judge,  senator,  etc.  ;  Col.  Ebenezer  Learned 
of  Oxford  ;  Capt.  Jonathan  Tucker  of  Charlton  ;  Capt.  Henry  King  and 
Amos  Singletary,  afterwards  senator,  etc.,  of  Sutton  ;  Col.  Joshua  Ilenshaw 
and  Hon.  Joseph  Allen  of  Leicester,  afterwards  member  of  Congress,  etc. ; 
Jonas  Howe  of  Rutland  ;  John  Mason  of  Barre  ;  Capt.  Isaac  Stone  of  Oak- 
ham ;  Levi  Brigham  of  Northborough ;  Capt.  Stephen  Maynard  of  West- 
borough  ;  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  the  hrst  Major  General  in  the 
American  army  in  the  revolution  ;  Dr.  John  Taylor  of  Lunenburg ;  Capt. 

39 


306  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

David  Goodridge  of  Fitehburg  ;  Bsnjamin  Green  of  Usbridge  ;  Hon.  Samuel 
Baker  of  Berlin,  afterwards  senator,  executive  councillor,  etc.  ;  Hon.  Jona- 
than Grout  of  Petersham,  the  first  member  of  Congress  from  Worcester 
county  ;  Capt.  Josiah  Fay  of  Southborough  ;  Maj.  Paul  Mandell  of  Hard- 
wick,  who  afterwards  served  under  Lafayette,  see  page  243  ;  Hon,  Simeon 
Dwight  of  Warren,  sheriff,  etc.  ;  Col.  Timothy  Newell  of  Sturbridgc  ;  Hon. 
Israel  Nichols  of  Leominster,  senator,  etc.  ;  Abiel  Sadler  of  Upton  ;  Capt. 
James  Woods  of  New  Braintree  ;  John  Child  of  Holden  ;  Capt.  Samuel  Jen- 
nison  of  Douglas  :  John  Sherman  of  Grafton  ;  Nahum  Green  of  Royalston"; 
Nathan  Wood  of  Westminster ;  Jonathan  Baldwin  of  Templeton  ;  William 
Bigelow  of  Athol ;  Samuel  Estabrook  of  Princeton. 

June  27,  17T6,  Mr.  Thomas  leased  the  paper  for  two  years, 
while  he  was  attending  to  his  business  in  other  towns,  to  Dan- 
iel Bigelow  and  William  Stearns,  (this  being  the  Daniel  Bige- 
low, afterwards  county  attorney,  senator  and  executive  council- 
lor, (see  page  45.)  Tliey  subsequently  transferred  their  lease, 
Aug.  14,  1777,  to  Anthony  Haswell,  (afterwards  conductor  of 
the  Vermont  Gazette,)  who  printed  the  paper  "  near  the  meet- 
ing-house," most  likely  in  the  old  wooden  structure  occupying 
tlie  site  of  the  present  City  Hall,  where  the  old  "  National  ^Egis' 
was  afterwards  printed,  (see  page  268.)  Feb.  11,  1778,  Plas- 
well  appears  to  be  "  hard  up"  for  paper  and  the  means  to  ])rint, 
and  threatens  to  stop  unless  money  is  forthcoming,  soon.  Isaiah 
Thomas,  in  the  meanwhile*,  remained  at  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
where  he  had  a  bookstore,  among  many  other  places.  June 
25, 1778,  on  the  expiration  of  the  lease,  Mr.  Thomas  resumed  tlie 
publication  of  the  Spy.  About  this  time,  in  consequence  of  the 
war,  the  hard  times  began  to  grow  harder,  owing  to  the  ex- 
treme scarcity  of  material  to  make  paper  of,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  give  exhorbitant  prices  for  it,  very  greatly  diminishing  the 
profits  of  his  business.  In  1780,  the  profits  of  the  paper  and 
of  Mr.  Thomas' printing  business,  generally,  were  so  reduced 
as  to  be  insufficient  for  the  support  of  his  family,  so  he  was 
obliged  to  add  other  business,  and  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  Joseph  Trumbull,  (father  of  George  A.  Trumbull,  see 
page  83,)  and  opened  the  old  medicinal  store  a  little  northward 
(or  north-eastward)  of  the  Court  House,  wliere  he  sold  drugs 
and  medicines,  &c.  (This  was  probably  the  store  opened  by 
Dr.  Wm.  Paine  before  the  revolution,  and  afterwards  occupied 
by  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  see  page  84.)  Mr.  Thomas  was  in 
this  business  but  two   or   three    years,  till   his    principal    busi- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  307 

ncss  became  more  remunerative.  At  one  time,  in  June,  1781., 
he  was  so  hard  pushed  by  lack  of  profits  in  his  business  that  lie 
threatened  to  move  out  of  town,  and  actually  began  arrange- 
ments therefor.  But  his  business  soon  reviving  on  the  advent 
of  peace,  he  began  to  prosper  ;  temporarily  embarrassed,  again 
however,  for  a  time,  by  the  stamp  act  of  178G,  soon  afterwards 
repealed. 

Owing  to  the  passage  of  an  act  levying  a  tax  on  advertise- 
ments published  in  newspapers,  Mr.  Thomas  discontinued  the 
Spy  for  tvv^o  years,  and  published  instead  during  that  time,  a 
periodical  in  quarto  form,  called  the  ''  Massachusetts  Weekly 
Magazine,"  comprising  four  volumes,  from  April,  1786,  to  April, 
1768. 

From  Jan.  1,  1793,  to  June  1,  1798,  the  Spy  appears  to  have 
been  again  prmted  "  near  the  old  South  meeting-house,  for 
Isaiah  Thomas,  by  Leonard  Worcester,"  "  printing  of  all  kinds" 
being  advertised  to  be  done  at  this  time  by  botli  Isaiah  Thomas 
and  Leonard  Worcester  "  at  their  respective  offices,"  Thomas' 
book-store  and  printing  office  remaining  where  they  had  always 
been,  "  near  the  Court  House."  The  very  extensive  book 
printing  operations  of  Mr.  Thomas  at  this  period,  in  other 
places  as  well  as  in  Worcester,  appear  to  have  engrossed  his 
Avhole  attention.  Most  likely  Leonard  Worcester  had  purcliased 
the  printing  material,  or  a  portion  of  it,  of  Anthony  Haswell, 
when  the  latter  removed  to  Vermont,  and  occupied  Mr.  Has- 
well's  former  quarters  here.  From  June  1,  1796,  to  Jan  1, 
1799,  the  Spy  was  printed  at  the  "  old  printing  office  on  Court 
Hill,  by  Leonard  Worcester  for  Isaiah  Thomas,"  and  from  the 
latter  date  by  "  Isaiah  Thomas,  Jr.,  for  Isaiali  Thomas  &  Son," 
until  the  senior  Thomas  entirely  relinquished  his  printing  busi- 
ness to  his  son.  Isaac  Sturtevant  printed  the  f)aper  for  Isaiah 
Thomas,  Jr.,  from  Jan.  1.  1806,  till  Oct.  25, 1814.  Wm.  Man- 
ning then  took  it,  and  published  it  alone  till  1819,  when  George 
A.  Trumbull  went  in  company  with  him.  Manning  &  Trum- 
bull published  it  four  years  till  1823,  when  John  Milton  Earle 
and  xknthony  Chase  took  it,  and  published  it  till  1826  in  connec- 
tion with  their  stoi-e  business,  then  located  nearly  opposite  the 
Centre    Church.     From    1826   to   1835,    it  was   published  by 


308  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Messrs.  Earlc,  Chase  and  Samuel  11.  Coltoii,  under  the  firm  of 
S.  11.  Colton  &  Co.,  from  which  latter  date  John  Milton  Earle 
was  sole  proprietor  till  1850,  wlien  he  took  Thomas  Drew 
into  pa:tner?hip.  Earle  &  Drew  were  publishers  till  Dec. 
1858,  when  Foss  &  Farnum,  (Moses  Farnum  of  Blackstone 
and  S.  S.  Foss  of  the  Woonsocket  (Rhode  Island)  Patriot,) 
purchased  it,  and  sold  out  to  Jolui  D.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  (John 
D.,  John  S.  &  Charles  C.  Baldwin,)  March  17,  1859,  the  latter 
having  now  been  proprietors  over  eighteen  years.  John  Milton 
Earlc  was  solo  or  principal  editor  of  the  Spy  from  1819  to  1859. 

For  three  months  previous  to  the  ])residential  election  in 
November,  1840,  a  campaign  paper,  called  ''  The  North  Bend," 
in  aid  of  the  election  of  Harrison  and  Tyler,  was  issued 
from  the  ofhcc  of  the  Spy. 

The  printing  and  publishing  office  of  the  Spy  was  removed 
Jan.  1,  1821,  from  its  old  location  on  Court  Hill,  to  the  build- 
ing erected  a  short  time  previous  by  Gov.  Lincoln,  on  the  south 
corner  of  Main  and  Thomas  streets,  next  north  of  the  then  re- 
sidence of  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft.  Here  the  Spy  office  remained 
till  June  23,  1824,  when  it  was  removed  a  few  rods  north,  to 
the  brick  building  on  the  north  corner  of  Thomas  street,  op- 
posite the  Centre  meeting-house,  whore  it  was  printed  for  the 
proprietors  for  a  short  time  by  Charles  Griffin  &  Samuel  B. 
Manning,  until  182G,  when  Samuel  H.  Colton,  a  practical  print- 
er, went  into  partnership  with  the  then  proprietors,  Messrs. 
Earle  &  Chase.  In  December,  1829,  the  office  was  removed  to 
the  second  story  of  Eaton  Block,  next  north  of  the  Centre 
meeting-house,  where  it  remained  till  April  1,  1837,  when  it 
was  removed  to  the  south  end  of  Brinlcy  Block,  then  just  com- 
pleted, over  the  Citizens'  Bank.  Here  the  Spy  office  remained 
till  July,  1850,  when  it  was  removed  to  Butman  Block,  in  the 
rooms  now  occupied  by  Asa  B.  Adams,  printer.  In  December, 
1858,  the  office  was  removed  to  Foster  Block  on  Foster  street, 
and  in  December,  1860,  removed  back  to  Butman  Block,  in 
the  quarters  now  occupied  by  the  Evening  Gazette,  and  JEgis 
and  Gazette.  Since  July,  1867,  the  oflice  has  been  in  the  Spy 
building,  then  erected  by  the  proprietors,  J.  D.  Baldwin  &  Co., 
for  their  own  accommodation,  opposite  the  City  Hall. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  309 

The  Daily  Spy. 
The  "  Worcester  Daily  Spy"  was  started,  from  the  office  of 
*•  The  Massachusetts  Spy,"  July  22,  1845,  by  the  then  propri- 
etor, John  Milton  Earle,  so  the  daily  is  in  its  tliirty-third  year. 
The  first  number  was  a  small  sheet  18  by  23  inches,  a  trifle 
larger  than  the  first  number  of  "The  Massacliusetts  Spy" 
(weekly)  published  by  Isaiah  Thomas  in  Worcester,  May  3, 
1775,  whicli  was  IG  by  20  inciies,  including  one  inch  in  widtli 
for  margin  outside  of  the  printed  matter.  The  enlargements 
from  time  to  time  have  increased  the  size  to  28  by  42  inches. 

John  Milton  Earle  and  His   Apprentices. 

JoHX  Milton  Earle,  born  in  Leicester,  April  13,  1794,  Avas  son  of  Pliny 
Earle,  the  earliest  machine  card  manufacturer  in  Leicester,  and  great-great- 
grandson  of  Ralph  Earle,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  town,  who  went 
from  Rhode  Island  to  Leicester  in  1717,  and  settled  upon  the  estate  in  Mul- 
berry Grove  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  on  which  John  Milton's  father 
and  grandfather  as  well  as  himself  were  born.  John  Milton  Earle,  whose 
connection  with  the  Spy  has  been  already  stated,  came  to  Worcester  in. 181G, 
and  opened  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Anthony  Chase,  a  boot  and 
shoe  and  West  India  and  dry  goods  store  in  the  brick  building  on  the  north 
corner  of  Main  and  Thomas  streets  ;  afterwards  removed  their  store  to  the 
old  wooden  building  next  north  of  the  Nathaniel  Maccarty  house,  near  the 
south  corner  of  Main  and  Walnut  streets;  and  in  1821,  removed  back  to 
their  first  location,  or  near  it,  "  opposite  the  Centre  meeting."  Here  they 
w^ere  in  business  several  years,  while  Mr.  Earle  was  attending  to  his  editor- 
ial duties  as  manager  of  the  Spy.  Mr.  Chase  having  also  for  several  years  an 
interest  therein.  On  the  dissolution  of  their  partnership  in  the  mercantile 
business,  about  1828,  Mr.  Earle  turned  his  entire  attention  to  the  paper,  and 
Mr.  Chase  soon  after  became  transportation  agent,  in  Worcester,  ot  the  old 
Blackstone  canal,  then  just  opened,  and  subsequently  county  treasurer.  Mr. 
Earle  was  exceedingly  Avell  versed  in  several  branches  of  natural  history, 
particularly  conchology  and  botany,  and  was  one  of  the  most  noted  horti- 
culturists of  his  time.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  jDioneers  in  the  anti- 
slavery  movement,  making  that  sentiment  always  prominent  in  his  political 
faith,  while  an  ardent  Whig,  and  he  was  in  consequence  one  of  the  leaders 
of  til e  "  free  soil"  movement  in  1848.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  1844,  1845,  1846,  1850,  1851  and  1852,  and  of  the  Sen- 
ate in  1858  ;  and  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1853  ;  and  many  years 
trustee  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  postmaster  from  1801 
to  18GG,  many  years  president  of  the  Worcester  County  Horticultural  Socie- 
ty, and  filled  numerous  other  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  died 
Feb.  8,  1874,  in  his  80th  year. 

Hon.  John  Milton  Earle  was  not  a  practical  printer,  bnt  his 
connection  with  the  business  was  so  long  by  virtue  of  his  being 
for  over  thirty-five  years  sole  or  principal  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Spy,  as  to  entitle  him  at  least  to  an    honorary  position 


310  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

among  the  disciples  of  Faust.  In  those  clays,  especially  before 
the  starting  of  the  daily,  it  was  the  practice  to  have  three  or 
four  apprentices  at  the  business  at  the  same  time,  graduating 
one  each  year.  Among  the  apprentices  of  Mr.  Earle  at  differ- 
ent times  were  many  who  subsequently  became  more  or  less 
prominent :  Col.  Charles  H.  Gcer,  afterwards  commander  of 
the  Light  Infantry,  and  of  the  old  Tenth  Regiment  ;  Austin 
Colton,  afterwards  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Rockford  (111.) 
Forum  ;  Rev.  Jonathan  L.  Estey,  afterwards  printer  and  pub- 
lisher of  several  newspapers  ;  Charles  T.  Larrabee,  afterwards 
foreman  of  the  office  ;  Joseph  S.  Wall,  afterwards  foreman, 
printer  and  publisher  of  the  "Friendly  Reformer,"  "Physio- 
logical Journal"  and  other  publications  of  which  he  was  edi- 
tor ;  Wm.  E.  Goddard,  who  studied  for  the  ministry,  but  died 
young ;  Caleb  A.  Wall,  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Spy 
as  reporter,  editor  and  proprietor  for  a  few  years  of  the  "  Wor- 
cester Paily  Transcript"  and  of  the  Weekly  "  ^Egis"  and 
"  Transcript,"  and  author  of  the  "  Reminiscences  of  Worces- 
ter ;"  Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  printer  and  manager  for  several  years 
of  the  "  Barre  Patriot,"  afterwards  of  the  firm  of  Tyler  &  Ham- 
ilton, printers  of  the  "  Worcester  Palladium,"  then  pastor  of 
the  Universalist  Societies  in  Oxford,  Mass.,  Granby,  Conn., 
Quincy,  Mass.,  and  Oxford  again,  and  for  sixteen  years  past  of 
the  firm  of  Tyler  <fe  Seagrave,  proprietors  of  the  book  and  job  de- 
partment  of  the  old  office,  where  both  learned  their  trade  ; 
xVbner  Brigham  Hardy,  afterwards  editor  of  the  morning  edi- 
tion of  the  Boston  Journal  from  its  start  till  he  died  ;  J.  Ad- 
dison Allen,  subsequently  publisher  of  sundry  papers,  mention- 
ed in  their  appropriate  place,  and  noted  as  a  great  lover  of  horse 
flesh  ;  Stephen  N.  Stockwell,  business  manager  and  editor  of 
the  Boston  Journal,  who  has  had  a  seat  in  both  branches  of 
the  Massachusetts  Legislature  ;  David  B.  Mellish,  who  died 
while  a  member  of  Congress  ;  John  S.  Gourlay,  since  in  charge 
of  one  of  the  departments  in  the  government  printing  office  at 
Washington  ;  and  Daniel  Seagrave  who  was  the  last  apprentice, 
now  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Tyler  &  Seagrave,  printers 
of  this  book,  antiquary,  and  secretary  of  the  Worcester  Society 
of  Antiquity. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  oil 

The  National  JSgis. 

This  is  the  name  of  a  weekly  paper  started  Dec.  2,  1801, 
as  tlie  organ  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  on  his  accession  to  tlie  pre- 
sidency, the  Spy  having  sustained  the  policy  of  John  Adams  in 
the  political  controversy  tlien  going  on  between  what  was  then 
called  the  "  Federal"  and  the  "  Republican"  party.  Tlie  edi- 
tor and  manager  for  the  first  four  years  was  Hon.  Francis 
Blake,  and  the  printer,  Samuel  Getting.  After  some  changes 
on  account  of  financial  embarrassment,  the  paper  in  1807  went 
into  the  hands  of  Henry  Rogers,  then  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who 
was  publisher  until  the  close  of  1824,  when  Charles  Griffin  be- 
came partner  with  him  ;  it  was  printed  and  published  by 
Rogers  &  Griffin  till  Jan.  1,  1828,  when  Samuel  Morrill  took 
Mr.  Rogers'  interest,  and  it  was  continued  by  Griffin  &  Morrill 
till  Jan.  1,  1830,  when  Moses  W.  Grout  became  the  printer 
and  publisher.  July  31,  1833,  it  was  united  with  tlie  Mas- 
sachusetts Yeoman,  the  two  being  printed  and  published 
by  Moses  W.  Grout  as  tlie  ''  National  ^Egis  and  Massachusetts 
Yeoman"  from  July  31  to  Dec.  31, 1833,  when  the  consolidated 
paper  was  merged  in  the  "  Worcester  Palladium,"  started  Jan. 
1,  1834,  by  John  S.  C.  Knowlton.  Among  the  editors  of  the 
^(HS,  at  different  periods,  succeeding  Francis  Blake,  were 
Judge  Edward  Bangs,  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Samuel  Braser,  Wil- 
liam Charles  White,  Enoch  Lincoln,  Edward  D.  Bangs,  Pliny 
Merrick,  William  Lincoln,  Christopher  C.  Baldwin  and  Wm. 
N.  Green,  to  its  discontinuanee  in  1833. 

The  printing  and  publishing  office  of  the  "  National  JEgis" 
was  removed,  Dec.  15,  1824,  from  the  second  story  of  the  wood- 
en structure  on  the  site  of  the  City  Hall,  where  it  had  been 
printed  from  the  beginning,  to  the  rooms  over  the  "  Dr.  Oliver 
Fiske  store,"  at  the  lower  end  of  Main  street,  nearly  opposite 
Capt.  Samuel  B.  Thomas'  "Exchange  Coffee  House."  Here  a 
bookstore  was  kept  in  the  first  story  by  Clarendon  Harris  on 
one  side,  and  T.  &  W.  Keith  had  a  watch  and  jewelry  store  on 
the  other  side.*  The  upper  story  was  entered  by  a  flight  of 
stairs  on  the  outside  of  the  north  end.     Caleb  Tebbets,  tailor, 

*  Mr.  Harris  still  carries  the  same  watch  he  bought  of  the   Messrs.  Keith  in 
this  store,  fifty  years  ago,  and  it  is  good  for  another  half  century  of  service  yet. 


31.2  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

occupied  this  store  before  the  Messrs.  tveith.  Mr.  Harris  was 
there  from  1823  to  1829,  when  he  removed  to  what  was  then 
Dr.  Green's  building.  The  ^Egis  was  publislied  in  tlie  Fiske 
building  until  tlie  consolidation  with  the  "  Yeoman,"  when  it 
was  transferred  to  "  Goddard's  Row." 

Henry  Rogers  started  again  the  ''National  JSgis,"  Jan.  24, 
1838,  with  William  Lincoln  as  editor,  and  liimself  as  printer 
and  publisher.  The  office  was  in  the  attic  of  Dr.  G:een's  build- 
ing over  the  bookstore  of  Clarendon  Harris.  In  his  first  issue, 
he  alluded  to  the  fact  that  it  was  "  more  than  thirty  years" 
since  his  first  connection  with  the  former  paper  of  that  name, 
which  he  in  1807  took  from  the  original  publisher,  and  conduct- 
ed for  some  time.  June  1,  1839,  Mr.  Rogers  sold  out  to  T.  W. 
&  J.  Butterfield,  who  published  and  printed  the  paper,  with 
Samuel  F.  Haven  as  editor,  until  March  1,  1842,  when  Alexan- 
der H.  Bullock  assumed  Jonathan  Biitterfield's  interest  in  the 
paper,  and  it  was  published  by  T.  W.  Butterfield  &  Co.  with 
Mr.  Bullock  as  editor  for  two  years.  The  Messrs.  Butterfield 
removed  the  office  in  1839  to  the  third  story  of  the  noith  end 
of  Butman  Block.  From  March  1,  1844,  Thomas  W.  But- 
terfield was  sole  publisher  vrith  ^h\  Haven  as  editor,  until 
Jan.  21,  1846,  when  Andrew  S.  Lovell  became  editor,  continu- 
ing till  Nov.  25,  1846,  when  the  cstablisiimcnt  was  purchased 
by  Edward  Winslow  Lincoln  &  S.  V.  R.  Hickox,  who  conduct- 
ed the  paper  with  Mr.  Lincoln  as  editor,  till  Jan.  1,  1819. 
Then  Mr.  Hickox  managed  the  paper  alone  till  Oct.  2,  1850, 
when  he  sold  out  to  C.  Buckingham  Webb.  Mr.  Webb  pub- 
lished the  paper  with  Frederick  M.  Feck  as  editor,  till  Oct.  1, 
1857,  when  he  sold  out  to  William  R.  Hooper,  who  merged  it 
in  the  "  W^eekly  Transcript,"  conducting  the  two  consolidated 
papers  thereafter  as  the  Weekly  "  ^Egis  and  Transcript."  Mr. 
Hooper  sold  out  to  Caleb  A.  Wall,  April  1,  1804,  and  the  lat- 
ter to  S.  B.  Bartholomew  &  Co.,  Jan.  1,  1806.  Since  May  3, 
1809,  Charles  H.  Doe  &  Co.  have  been  the  proprietors,  the 
name  having  been  changed  to  "  ^Egis  and  Gazette." 

For  three  months  previous  to  the  presidential  election  in 
November,  1844,  a  campaign  paper,  called  "Old  Massachu- 
setts," was  issued  from  the  office  of  the  National  -Egis,  conduct- 


Meminiscences  of    Worcester.  313 

ed'by  A.  H.  Bullock,  in  aid  of  the  cloctioii  of  Cla}^  and  Freling- 
liuyseii  ;  and  for  three  moiitlis  previous  to  tlie  election  in  1848, 
a  daily  campaign  paper,  called  the  "  True  Whig,"  was  issued 
from  the  same  office,  in  aid  of  tlie  election  of  Taylor  and  Fill- 
more, conducted  by  A.  IL  Bullock  and  E,  W.  Lincoln. 

The  Yeoman. 

The  "  Massachusetts  Yeoman"  was  started  Sept.  3, 1823,  hj 
Austin  Denny,  editor  and  proprietor,  with  Wm.  Manning, 
printer,  the  office  being  in  Dr.  Green's  building,  next  south  of 
the  centre  school-house,  until  June  23,  1824,  when  it  was  re- 
moved to  Gov.  Lincoln's  building  on  the  south  corner  of  Maiji 
and  Thomas  streets,  where  the  Spy  had  been  printed  for  three 
or  four  years.  Aug.  27,  1825,  the  heading  was  changed  to 
''  Massachusetts  Yeoman  and  Worcester  Saturday  Journal  and 
Advertiser,"  changing  the  day  of  publication  from  Wednesday 
to  Saturday.  April  7,  1827,  the  office  was  removed  to  the  old 
wooden  building  next  north  of  the  Nathaniel  Maccarty  house, 
previously  occupied  by  Earle  &  Chase  for  their  store,  "  opposite 
the  post  office,"  the  post  office  being  then  kept  by  James  Wil- 
son, just  south  of  where  Mechanics'  Hall  now  stands.  April  5, 
1828,  the  office  was  again  removed  to  the  building  on  Front 
street,  opposite  the  Town  Hall,  which  formerly  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  Town  Hall  building,  and  which  had  been  occupied 
for  a  printing  office  before  its  removal.  Here  the  Yeoman  was 
printed  for  six  months  by  Moses  Spooner  &  Ebenezer  P.  Mer- 
riam,  who  had  come  to  Worcester  from  Brookfield,  and  estab- 
lished a  printing  office  here,  both  having  learned  their  trade  of 
Ebenezer  Merriam,  father  of  E.  F.  Merriam.  Oct.  18,  1828, 
the  office  was  removed  to  No.  5  "  Goddard's  Row,"  near  the 
lower  end  of  Main  street,  where  Spooner  &  Merriam  did  tlic 
printing  till  April  4,  1829,  from  which  time  Austin  Denny  and 
Emory  Washburn,  (the  latter  then  a  young  lawyer  from  Leices- 
ter,) were  the  editors  and  proprietors,  and  Moses  Spooner  did 
the  printing,  till  Jan.  1,  1830,  from  which  latter  date  Austin 
Denny  was  sole  editor  and  proprietor  until  his  death,  July  1, 
1830,  aged  35,  and  Moses  Spooner  and  Edwin  C.  Church  w^ere 
the  printers.  After  the  last  mentioned  date,  Daniel  Henshaw, 
40 


814  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

afterwards  of  Lynn,  became  the  editor  and  manager  of  the  pa- 
per, and  Spooner  &  Church  conthuied  to  be  the  printers,  until 
the  consolidation  with  the  ^Egis,  the  latter  part  of  July,  1833. 
The  Yeoman  was  started  and  conducted  tlH'oug1u)ut  in  tlie  in- 
terest of  the  anti-masonic  movement,  tlien  comprising  a  large 
party  throughout  the  union,  of  whom  WiUiam  Wirt  of  Virginia 
was  the  nominee  for  president. 

The    Republican. 

The  ''  Worcester  Couinty  Republican"  was  started  March 
4,  1829,  as  a  democratic  organ,  on  the  accession  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son to  the  presidency,  with  Jubal  Harrington,  afterwards  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  as  editor.  It  was  "  printed  for  the  pro- 
prietors" until  Dec.  0,  following,  by  Moses  Spooner,  and  after 
tliat  by  Moses  Sj)Ooner  and  Edwin  C.  Church,  printers  of  tlie 
Massachusetts  Yeoman,  the  printing  office  being  at  ''  No.  5 
Goddard's  Row,"  nearly  opposite  the  Centre  meetingdiouse,  i-i 
the  new  brick  block  then  just  built  by  P.  &  D.  Goddard.  Dec. 
18,  1833,  the  name  was  changed  to  ''  Worcester  Republican," 
after  which  it  was  printed  and  published  by  Moses  Spooner. 
The  ofhce  was  for  six  months  at  No.  3  "  Granite  Row,"  the  new 
brick  block  on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  then  just  built  by 
Hon.  Daniel  Waldo.  May  28,  1834,  it  was  removed  to  the 
Central  Exchange,  and  from  that  time  published  by  Moses 
Spooner,  and  printed  by  Mirick  &  Bartlett  till  it  was  discon- 
tinued, Feb.  6,  1839,  and  merged  in  the  Palladium,  the  last 
few  months  of  that  time,  the  editor,  Jubal  Harrington,  claiming 
to  be  proprietor. 

Among  the  apprentices  at  the  Republican  office,  in  1837,  was 
Maj.  Ben.  Perley  Poor,  for  many  years  past  the  well-known 
Washington  correspondent,  "  Perley,"  of  the  Boston  Journal, 
clerk  of  the  Congressional  Committee  on  Printing,  and  author 
of  the  "  Congressional  Directory." 

The  Palladium. 

The  '•  W^orcester  Palladium"  was  started  by  John  S. 
C.  Knowlton,  Jan.  1,  1834,  and  continued  by  him  as  sole  pro- 
prietor, puldisher,  and  principal  editor,  until  his  decease,  July 


\ 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  315 

1,  1871,  and  afterwards  coutiauod  by  his  daughters  until  July, 
1875,  when  they  sold  it  to  Charles  Hamilton  who  had 
been  its  printer  for  many  years.  He  published  it  a  fe\7  months 
until  Feb.  18,  1876,  when  its  subscription  list  and  good  will 
were  purchased  by  J.  D.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  and  the  paper  merged 
in  the  "  Massachusetts  Spy."  Mr.  Knowlton,  who  came  here 
from  Lowell,  started  the  Palladium  originally  as  a  "  National 
Republican"  or  "Whig  paper,"  but  during  the  political  canvass 
of  1838,  owing  to  some  controversy  between  the  friends  of 
Judge  Thomas  Kinnicutt  and  those  of  Judge  Pliny  Merrick, 
both  then  Whig  candidates  for  the  State  Senate,  Mr.  Knowlton 
went  over  with  Col.  Merrick  and  others  to  the  democratic  par- 
ty the  following  year,  and  the  "  Republican"  newspaper  being 
discontinued,  the  "  Palladium"  thereafter  took  its  place  as  a 
democratic  organ.  Tlic  Kansas  and  Nebraska  policy  of  Frank- 
lin Pierce  was  too  mucli  for  him,  however,  and  in  1856,  Mr. 
Knowlton  found  it  most  consistent  with  his  previous  political 
views  to  sustain  the  nomination  of  John  C.  Fremont,  for  Pres- 
ident by  the  then  newly  organized  "National  Republican" 
party   of  thecountry. 

The  Palladium  was  first  printed  in  Dr.  Green's  building, 
over  Mr.  Harris'  bookstore,  by  Moses  W.  Grout,  till  May  18, 
1836,  and  then  by  Henry  Rogers  at  the  same  place,  till  Dec. 
20,  1837,  when  the  office  was  removed  to  tlic  Central  Exchange, 
from  which  time  the  successive  firms  doing  printing  at  the  lat_ 
ter  place,  beginning  with  Mirick  &  Bartlett,  printed  the  Pal 
ladium. 

The  firms  doing  business  as  printers  in  the  old  Central  Ex- 
change have  been,  beginning  in  1834 :  Mirick  &  Bartlett, 
(Charles  A.  Mirick  &  E.  W\ard  Bartlett),  to  1839  ;  E.  W. 
Bartlett;  Charles  A.  Mirick  &  Co.  ;  Wallace  &  Ripley,  (Wil- 
liam A.  Wallace  &  Joseph  B.  Ripley),  to  1842  ;  J.  B.  Ripley  ; 
Kneeland  k  Metcalf;  Lewis  Metcalf;  Church  &  Fiske.  In 
1843,  the  building  was  burned,  and  Church  &  Fiske  found 
temporary  quarters  in  Butman  Block.  After  the  "Exchange" 
was  rebuilt,  they  remo^'cd  back,  and  were  succeeded  by 
Church  &  Prenti;-js  ;  Samuel  I).  Church  ;  Benjamin  J.  Dodge, 
from  1846  to  1^49  ;  Tyler  tt  Hamilton  ;  and  Charles  Ham- 
ilton, from  1851  to  the  present  time. 


316  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  \A'aterfall,  Cataract,  Washingtonian,  Standard,  Dew 
Drop  and   Agitator. 

The  '*  Worcester  Waterfall  and  Washingtonian  Delegate" 
was  started  at  the  Ijcginning  of  tlie  Washingtonian  temperance 
movement,  February  26,  1842,  by  Jesse  W.  Goodrich  as  edi- 
lo)-,  with  Lewis  Metcalf  as  pi-inter  and  publisher,  in  the  Central 
Exchange.  Church  k  Fiske  took  the  paper  in  May,  1842, 
when  they  succeeded  Mr.  ^letcalf  in  the  ]>rinting  business, 
and  pi-inted  it  as  the  organ  of  the  temperance  movement 
till  March,  1843,  with  Mr.  Goodrich  as  editor,  when  some 
difference  arising  between  him  and  the  pui)lishers  as  to  editorial 
authority,  ]Mr.  Goodrich's  connection  with  it  ceased,  and  the 
"  Waterfall"  was  continued  by  the  same  publishers  and  print- 
ers, witli  Warren  Lazell  as  editor,  till  December,  1843.  Mean- 
while Mr.  Goodrich  had  started  another  paper,  the  "  Cataract 
and  Washingtonian,"  as  the  organ  of  the  Washingtonian  move- 
ment, and  the  ''  Waterfall"  became  at  this  time  luiited  with  it, 
Mr.  Goodrich  afterwards  adding  other  names  of  deceased 
temperance  organs,  in  other  places,  the  consolidated  paper  con- 
tinuing in  the  field  as  a  temperance  organ  for  ten  years  there- 
after, with  Mr.  Goodricli  as  editor  and  manager. 

the  cataract. 
Jesse  W.  Goodrich  started  Wednesday,  March  22,  1843,  the 
first  number  of  a  new  and  spicy  temperance  paper,  entitled 
"  Worcester  County  Cataract  and  Massachusetts  Washington- 
ian," devoted  to  total  abstinence,  the  useful  arts,  morals,  do- 
mestic economy  and  general  intelligence,  ''  in  aid  of  the  Wash- 
ingtonian Temperance  Society  of  Worcester,  all  the  Washing- 
tonian Temperance  Societies  of  the  county  of  Worc^ester,  the 
Massachusetts  Washingtonian  Total  xlbstinence  Society,  and  in 
co-op3ration  with  all  the  Washingtonian  and  teetotal  societies 
and  presses  in  the  Commonwealth,  the  country  and  the  world  !" 
It  was  edited  by  J.  W.  Goodrich,  whose  law  office  was  in  the 
Central  Exchange,  and  printed  by  R.  B.  Hancock  in  the  Healy- 
Burnside  Hall  building.  Jan.  3,  1844,  the  "  Waterfall"  hav- 
ing been  purchased  of  Church  &  Fiske,  the  name  was  hanged 
to  ''  Cataract   and   AVaterfall   and   Massachusetts    Wat    "n^iton- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  317 

iaii."  Sept.  11,  1845,  the  new  heading  appeared  of  '•  Massacliu- 
setts  Cataract  and  Worcester  County  Waterfall,"  issued  from 
the  press  of  James  M.  Stone,  tlien  publisher  of  the  State  Sent- 
inel printed  at  the  same  place.  From  Jan.  1,  1845,  it  was 
printed  by  Moses  Spooner,  and  published  from  the  first "  by 
an  association  of  teetotallers,"  till  March  25, 1847,  when  Jesse 
W.  Goodrich  k  Danfoith  Brown  became  publishers,  Mr.  Good- 
rich continuing-  as  editor,  and  Peter  L.  Cox  becoming  the  print- 
er at  No.  10  Central  Exchange.  Dec.  28,  1847,  the  "  Middle- 
sex Standard"  was  consolidated  with  it,  and  the  name  changed 
to  "  Massachusetts  Cataract  and  Temperance  Standard,"  pub- 
lished both  in  Worcester  and  Boston.  March  23,  1848,  a  pa- 
per called  the  "  Monthly  Temperance  Journal,"  began  to  be 
published  in  connection  with  it.  Aug.  31,  1848,  the  "  Bristol 
County  Dew  Drop,"  a  temperance  weekly  published  in  Taun- 
ton, was  consolidated  with  the  Cataract,  giving  it  the  lengthy 
name  thereafter,  of  "  Cataract,  Waterfall,  Standard  and  Dew 
Drop,"  published  "  simultaneously  at  Worcester,  Boston  and 
Taunton."  From  Jan.  1,  1848,  the  publishers  were  Goodrich, 
Brown  &  Co.,  to  the  close,  with  Mr.  Goodrich  as  the  editor 
from  the  beginning.  From  June  24,  1847,  it  was  printed  by 
Moses  Spooner,  who  afterwards  removed  to  Butman  Block. 
From  July  15  to  Sept,  16,  1852,  Rev.  David  Higgins  was  as- 
sociated with  Mr.  Goodrich  in  the  editorial  management. 
March  10,  1853,  Mr.  Goodrich  issued  his  valedictory,  announc- 
ing the  sale  of  the  establishment  to  Rev.  David  Higgins  & 
Rev.  Phinehas  Crandall,  who  continued  the  paper  a  year  or 
more  under  the  name  of ''  Temperance  Agitator  and  Massachu- 
setts Cataract,"  their  office  being  in  Butman  Block. 

Mr.  Goodrich  conducted  the  paper  for  more  than  ten  years, 
with  great  ability,  displaying  very  much  newspaporial  talent. 
Several  columns  each  week  were  devoted  to  full  reports  6f  tem- 
perance meetings  held  in  the  *'  Upper  Town  Hall,"  that  being 
the  era  of  the  great  '•  Washingtonian  movement"  of  which  this 
paper  was  the  especial  organ  and  promoter. 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  a  man  of  decided  talents,  possessed  of 
strong  literary  tastes,  and  wrote  with  much  elegance  and  ex- 
ceedingly grammatical  punctiliousness  of  style, though  his  sen- 


318  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

tcnces  were  frequently  so  long  as  to  provoke  much  criticism. 
Ho  was  a  great  inventor  of  new  and  expressive  words,  seldom 
writing  an  article  without  something  orighial  in  this  direction. 
Among  his  many  eccenti'icities  was  tlie  manner  in  which  he  at- 
tempted to  enter  into  the  "state  of  matrimony."  Instead  of 
the  ordinary  method  of  procedure  by  a  selection  from  those  ho 
l)ecamc  acquainted  with  in  practical  life,  he  inserted  an  ad- 
vertisement in  Fowler  &  Wells'  "  Water  Cure  Journal/'  in 
New  York,  setting  forth  his  want,  his  means  and  situation  in 
life,  and  calling  upon  all  marriageable  young  ladies  to  send  in 
their  proposals  for  the  contract  he  desired  to  make,  with  a 
particular  description  of  themselves,  accompanied  by  their 
daguerreotypes.  He  described  himself  to  them  as  ''  perfect  in 
all  his  physiological  functions  and  developments,''  and  they  were 
required  to  go  into  the  minutest  particulars  in  their  own  de- 
scription of  themselves.  In  response  to  this  request,  a  bushel 
of  daguerreotype  pictures  were  received,  but  while  the  recipient 
was  engaged  making  his  selection  from  such  a  multitude  of 
contestants  for  matrimonial  honors,  he  was  suddenly  removed 
from  all  earthly  felicities,  by  death,  June  14,  1857,  aged  50. 

The  State  Sentinel. 

The  "  State  Sentinel"  was  the  name  of  a  weekly  democratic 
paper,  of  the  same  size  as  its  cotemporaries  in  Worcester,  start- 
ed Jan.  1,  1814,  by  Granville  Parker  &  William  B.  Maxwell, 
as  the  organ  of  the  Tan  Buren  or  northern  wing  of  the  party, 
in  opposition  to  the  Palladium,  the  interests  of  which  were  sup- 
posed to  be  with  the  Calhoun  or  southern  wing.  The  nomina- 
tion of  James  K.  Polk  for  the  presidency  at  the  succeeding 
national  democratic  convention,  by  the  adoption  of  the  two- 
thirds  rule,  (Van  Buren  having  a  majority  in  that  convention,) 
induced  the  proprietors  to  sell  out  the  paper  to  James  M.  Stone, 
then  of  Lowell,  who  subsequently  conducted  it.  It  was  printed 
during  the  first  five  or  six  months  by  R.  B.  Hancock  in  the 
Healy-Burnside  building,  and  after  that  in  the  same  printing 
office  with  tlie  Cataract  and  Waterfall  in  the  Central  Exchange. 
The  Sentinel  was  continued  for  a  year  or  so  after  the  election, 
supporting  '•  Polk  and  Dallas"  but  opposing  the  annexation   of 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  31 P 

Texas  and  kindred  pro-slavery  measures  of  the  administration. 
The  paper  was  afterwards  united  with  the  "  Reformer,"  a 
temperance  paper  started  by  J.  B.  Ripley,  and  continued  a 
while  under  the  name  of  "  Sentinel  and  Reformer,"  after 
which  R.  B.  Hancock  added  the  lists  of  other  deceased  papers 
thereto,  and  published  a  consolidated  weekly  paper  for  a  short 
time  under  the  expressive  name  of*'  Omnium  Gatherum." 

The  Christian  Citizen. 

The  "  Christian  Citizen,"  commenced  Jan.  1, 1844,  by  Elihu 
Burritt  as  editor  and  publisher,  was  devoted  to  the  advocacy  of 
religion,  peace,  anti-slavery,  education  and  general  information. 
It  was  continued  seven  years,  the  first  year  and  a  half  it  was 
printed  by  Clnirch  &  Fiske  and  Church  &  Prentiss,  tlien  two 
years  by  Henry  J.  ITowland,  and  after  that  in  connection  suc- 
cessively with  the  ^-Egis  and  Spy  printing  offices.  During  the 
last  four  years,  T.  W.  Butterfield  was  associated  Avith  Mr. 
Burritt  as  publisher,  and  Julius  L.  CLarke,  Thomas  Drew  aud 
James  B.  Syme  were  successively  the  resident  associate  editors. 
The  Citizen  had  at  one  time  a  circulation  of  over  four  thou- 
sand, in  almost  every  quarter  of  the  civilized  world,  but  the  pa- 
per in  the  end  was  not  a  financial  success,  Mr.  Burritt  being- 
absent  in  Europe  most  of  the  time,  and  extensively  engaged 
there  in  his  lecturing  enterprises.  He  did  not  therefore,  and 
could  not,  pay  the  requisite  personal  attention  to  this  business 
enterprise  at  home  to  ensure  its  continued  success.  Mr.  ]]ur- 
ritt  was  born  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  Dec.  8,  1811,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  acquired  such  proficiency  in  the 
study  of  different  languagen,  while  working  at  his  trade,  as  to 
have  conferred  upon  him  the  cognomen  of  "  The  learned  black- 
smith," first  bestowed  upon  him  by  Gov.  Everett,  by  which  title 
he  has  been  known  all  over  the  world.  He  came  to  Worcester 
in  1838,  and  worked  for  some  time  in  the  blacksmithing  depart- 
ment of  the  late  William  A.  Wheeler's  iron  works  on  Thomas 
street,  the  occasion  of  his  coming  here,  being  that  he  might 
have  the  advantages  of  the  Antiquarian  Library,  for  the  pur- 
suit of  his  studies.  Among  those  most  instrumental  in  bring, 
ing   him  to  public  notice  were  Gov.  Everett  and  William  Lin- 


320  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

colli.  Mr.  Biirritt's  fame  soon  spread,  both  as  a  lecturer  and 
writer,  and  there  was  a  great  demand  for  his  services  as  a 
lecturer,  and  for  liis  writings.  He  gave  the  first  lecture  ever 
given  before  the  Worcester  County  Mechanics'  Association, 
Feb.  21,  1842,  in  the  Town  Hall,  at  that  time  the  rival  of  Brin- 
Icy  Hall  for  public  entertainments,  the  hall  being  crowded  to 
its  utmost  capacity.  Mr.  Burritt  lectured  during  that  winter 
sixty-eight  times  in  different  places,  with  great  success,  on 
scientific  and  moral  subjects,  astronomy,  peace,  natural  philoso- 
phy, &c.  His  published  translations  and  writings  on  various 
subjects  would  comprise  a  large  number  of  volumes.  After  the 
starting  of  the  Citizen,  he  devoted  himself  largely  to  the  cause 
of  peace  and  universal  brotherhood,  both  in  this  country  and 
in  England,  where  he  went  in  1846,  remaining  several  years. 
He  was  for  some  years  resident  consul  at  Birmingham.  For 
nearly  twenty  years  past  he  has  resided  in  his  native  town. 

The  "  LiTERAR'/  GEMIX.E,"  a  monthly  periodical  of  forty-eight 
pages,  one  half  filled  with  the  "  choicest  morceaux  of  French 
literature"  in  French,  the  other  half  being  printed  in  English, 
was  published  by  Elihu  Burritt  for  one  year  from   June,  1839. 

The  Gazette. 
The  "  Worcester  County  Gazette"  was  started  Jan.  2, 
1845,  as  an  organ  of  the  ''  Liberty  Party"  in  politics,  by  Rev. 
R.  B.  Hubbard,  for  three  years  previous  principal  of  the  Latin 
Grammar  or  High  School  in  the  centre  district,  and  the  nom- 
inee of  his  party  for  Representative  in  Congress  in  the  campaign 
of  1844.  It  was  printed  by  Rev.  Jonathan  L.  Estey  for  about 
six  months,  and  after  that  until  its  discontinuance,  Feb.  24, 
1847,  by  J.  L.  Estey  <fe  D.  C.  Evans,  in  Charles  Paine's  block, 
corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  street.  Estey  &  Evans  were  also 
the  publishers  after  Aug.  6,  1845,  Rev.  R.  B.  Hubbard  being 
the  editor  from  the  beginning. 

Other  Publications. 

"  The  American  Herald  and  Worcester  Recorder"  was  the 
name  of  a  paper  published  in  Worcester,  one  year  and  two 
months  from  Aug.  21,  1788,  by  Edward  Eveleth  Powers,  print- 


ClduA.     "UiAyy^-W- 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  321 

Br  and  bookseller.  During  the  preceding  seven  years  it  had 
been  printed  in  Boston  under  its  first  name  "  American  Herald." 
It  was  devoted  chiefly  to  agriculture. 

"  The  Independent  Gazetteer"  is  the  name  of  a  paper  com- 
menced Jan.  7,  1800,  and  published  by  Nalmm  Mower,  (brother 
of  the  late  Ebenezer  Mower,)  and  Daniel  Greenleaf,  (father  of 
the  late  William  Greenleaf,)  until  Oct.  7,  following,  from  which 
time  Daniel  Greenleaf  continued  it  to  Jan.  1, 1802,  when  the  list 
was  transferred  to  the  Spy,  on  which  paper  both  had  previously 
been  employed  as  printers,  and  where  they  had  learned  their 
trade.  It  was  printed  in  the  same  place  where  the  ^gis  was 
first  printed. 

Four  numbers  of  a  sm.all  sheet  called  the  "  Massachusetts 
Herald,  or  Worcester  Journal,"  were  printed  on  Saturday, 
Sept.  6,  13,  20  and  27,  1783,  "  by  Isaiah  Thomas  at  his 
office  near  the  Court  House." 

The  "  Worcester  Magazine  and  Historical  Journal"  was 
published  by  William  Lincoln  &  Christopher  C.  Baldwin,  in 
quarto  form,  for  one  year  from  June,  L825,  comprising  two  vol- 
umes. The  numbers  comprising  the  first  volume,  were  issued 
twice  a  month,  and  those  of  the  second  volume  once  a  month. 
Besides  selections  of  a  general  historical  and  biographical  char- 
acter, this  publication  contained  brief  histories  of  different 
towns  in  the  county.  Isaac  Goodwin  was  among  the  princi- 
pal contributors  of  historical  matter. 

The  Worcester  Magazine,  published  by  Wm.  Campbell,  the 
first  news  dealer  of  Worcester,  and  edited  by  J.  Milton  Thayer, 
student  at  law  with  Wm.  Lincoln,  Esq.,  now  Gov.  of  Nebraska, 
was  a  pamphlet  of  32  pages,  started  in  Jan.,  1843,  and  continu- 
ing only  till  July.  It  was  edited  with  ability,  had  a  corps  of 
the  best  writers  at  home  and  abroad,  but  having  no  financial 
basis,  it   succumbed  to  the  inevitable  after  a  brief  existence. 

"  The  Wasp"  is  the  name  of  a  democratic  campaign  paper 
of  small  size,  issued  from  the  office  of  the  "  Worcester  Palla- 
dium" for  three  months  preceding  the  election  in  1842. 
41 


322  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

The  •'  Worcester  Talisman,"  a  literary  and  miscellaneous 
journal,  consisting  principally  of  selections,  was  published  on 
successive  Saturdays,  during  one  year  from  April  5,  1828,  on 
an  octavo  sheet,  forming  one  volume,  by  Dorr  &  Rowland, 
booksellers,  and  was  continued  to  Oct.  15, 1829,  in  quarto  form, 
by  John  Milton  Earle,  in  connection  with  the  Spy. 

"The  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth"  started  in  1854,  w^as 
a  compact  and  pretty  little  weekly  edited  and  published  about 
a  year  by  Pliny  Earle,  a  son  of  the  editor  of  the  Spy.  It  was 
rather  more  than  a  boy's  paper,  and  a  little  less  than  a  man's — 
so  men  and  boys  wxre  its  patrons,  and  it  enjoyed  a  good  cir- 
culation. 

The  "  Bay  State  Press,"  a  Temperance  paper,  was  started 
by  Blake  Bros,  in  1869,  but  endured  but  a  iaw  weeks;  The 
Anthropological  Journal,  a  monthly,  was  printed  for  a  few 
months  by  J.  F.  Smith  in  1868  ;  and  a  cloud  of  boys'  papers 
which  we  have  no  means  of  enumerating,  make  up  the  list  of 
enterprises  which  have  been  undertaken  during  the  last  thirty 
years. 

The  French  Newspapers. 

There  have  been  several  newspapers  in  Worcester  printed  in 
French.  The  first  one  was  "L'Idee  Nouvelle,"  half  in  English 
and  half  in  French,  began  in  1869,  three  pages  published  in 
Burlington,  Vt.,  and  the  fourth  page  in  Worcester,  printed  by 
Tyler  &  Seagrave,  Mederic  Lanctot,  editor  and  publisher.  It 
existed  only  three  months.  It  was  succeeded  by  "  L'  Etendard 
National,"  in  October,  the  same  year,  also  printed  by  Tyler  & 
Seagrave,  Ferd.  Gagnon  being  editor  and  proprietor.  This  lat- 
ter was  published  one  year  in  Worcester,  and  afterwards  in 
Montreal,  illustrated,  but  dated  from  Worcester.  Its  circula- 
tion was  3000,  and  it  existed  till  April,  1875. 

"  Le  Foyer  Canadicn,"  Gagnon  &  Houde,  editors  and  pro- 
prietors, was  started  March,  187B,  and  published  here  till  Octo- 
ber, 1874,  since  which  it  has  been  published  in  Montreal  by 
Fred  Houde. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  323 

"  Le  Travelleiir,"  a  sheet  2G  by  37  inches,  was  begun  \\\ 
October,  1874,  by  Fercl.  Gaguoii,  editor  and  proprietor,  office  in 
tlie  Central  Exchange,  as  was  also  that  of  "  Le  Foyer  Canadien" 
wliile  printed  here.  "  Le  Travelleur"  is  the  most  permanently 
established  Franco-Canadien  newspaper  in  the  United  States. 
It  has  a  special  edition  for  the  Slate  of  Rhode  Island,  dated 
from  Worcester,  under  the  name  of"  Le  Courrier  Canadien." 

THE  DAILY   PAPERS. 

The  Daily  Spy  is  noticed  in  conjunction  with  the  Weekly 
with  which  it  is  connected.  The  cotemporary  dailies,  started 
independent  of  existing  weeklies,  and  living  for  a  longer  or 
sliorter  period,  are  as  follows  : 

The  Daily  Transcript. 

The  first  daily  paper  started  in  Worcester  bore  the  name  of 
the  "  Daily  Transcript,"  of  which  the  first  number  was  printed 
June  23,  18-15.  This  was  published  and  edited  by  Julius  L. 
Clarke,  (now  State  Auditor,)  Mr.  Clarke  having  been  for  a 
short  time  previous  connected  witli  the  "  Christian  Citizen." 
During  the  first  six  months,  it  was  printed  by  Estey  &  Evans, 
and  after  thaf  by  Peter  L.  Cox  in  the  Central  Exchange.  Af- 
ter Jan.  9,  1846,  it  was  published  by  J.  L.  Clarke  &  J.  H. 
Everett.  July  10,  following,  J.  H.  Everett  became  sole  propri- 
etor and  publislier,  and  after  March  11,  it  was  published  by  J. 
n.  Everett  ^^  Co.  at  what  was  then  No.  205  Main  street  (now 
No.  341.)  During  the  latter  portion  of  its  existence,  a  weekly 
paper  called  the  "  Bay  State  Farmer  and  Mechanics'  Ledger" 
was  publislied  in  connection  witli  this  daily,  and  both  w^ere 
continued  until  May  1,  1847,  when  the  subscription  lists 
of  both  daily  and  weekly  were  purchased  by  John  Milton  Earle, 
and  incorporated  with  the  Spy.  Mr.  Earle  continued  this  con- 
solidated daily  for  a  year  under  the  name  of  the  "  Daily  Trans- 
cript," and  then  changed  the  name  back  to  ''Daily  Spy,"  June 
24,  1848,  at  the  beginning  of  the  memorable  political  campaign 
of  that  year,  the  weekly  paper  in  connection  all  the  while  bear- 
in^:  the  same  old  liistoric  name  of  "  The  Massachusetts  Spy." 


324  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Mr.  Clarke  not  long  after  started  another  daily  paper  called 
the  "  Worcester  Daily  Telegraph,"  printed  by  Cashing  & 
Gerrish,  successors  of  Peter  L.  Cox  in  the  Central  Exchange, 
which  was  continued  for  a  brief  period  till  the  spring  of  1849, 
and  then  another  daily  called  the  "  Daily  Tribune,"  was  pub- 
lished for  a  short  time   by  J.  Addison  Allen  &  Co. 

The  Second  Daily   Transcript — Afterwards    Evening 
Gazktte. 

April  1,  1851,  a  paper  called  the  "Daily  Morning  Trans- 
cript," (having  no  connection  with  the  •'  Daily  Transcript" 
begun  by  Julius  L.  Clarke  in  1845,)  was  started  by  J.  Burrill 
k  Co.,  publishers  and  proprietors,  who  had  a  periodical 
office  at  "  No.  5  Merchants'  Row,"  in  the  one-story  block 
then  in  front  of  the  "  Worcester  House."  It  was  the  first 
two-cent  daily  in  Worcester,  neutral  in  politics,  and  edited 
by  Julius  L.  Clarke.  May  22,  1851,  the  material,  subscription 
list  and  good  wall  were  purchased  by  Silas  Dinsmore,  who  con- 
tinued the  paper  as  publislier  and  proprietor  from  that  date  as 
an  organ  of  the  Whig  party,  with  Mr.  Clarke  as  editor,  chang- 
ing it  to  a  cent  paper,  and  altering  the. heading  to  ''Daily 
Transcript."  In  1854,  Charles  E.  Stevens  succeeded  Mr. 
Clarke  as  editor  for  six  months,  followed  by  Edwin  Bynner^ 
John  B.  D.  Coggswell,  (now  president  of  the  senate,)  and  others. 
Mr.  Dinsmore  printed  the  paper  at  his  present  location,  over 
his  store.  He  sold  it,  April  1,  1855,  including  the  "  Weekly 
Transcript"  published  on  Saturdays  in  connection  witli  it,  to 
William  R.  Hooper,  who  immediately  conveyed  it  to  Edward 
R.  Fiske  &  Werden  Reynolds.  This  firm  published  it  one 
year,  with  Z.  K.  Pangborn  as  editor.  The  paper  was  then 
published  by  the  "  Worcester  Transcript  Company"  as  an  or- 
gan of  the  "  American  Republican"  party  with  Mr.  Pangborn 
as  editor,  till  Feb.  1,  1857,  when  William  R.  Hooper  took  it 
again  uniting  with  its  weekly  the  "National  ^Egis,"  and  publish- 
ed the  '•  Daily  Transcript"  and  "  Weekly  iEgis  and  Transcript" 
at  the  former  office  of  the  ^gis  in  Butman  Block,  as  Republic- 
an popers,  till  April  1,  1864,  wdien  he  sold  out  his  newspaper 
establishment  to  Caleb  A.  Wall.     The  latter  edited  and   pub- 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  325 

lislied  the  "  Daily  Transcript"  and  Weekly  '•  ^l^]gis  and  Trans- 
cript" at  the  old  quarters  till  Jan.  1,  1866,  when  he  sold  out  to 
S.  B.  Bartholomew  &  Co.,  (Charles  A.  Chase  being  the  Co.) 
They  enlarged  the  daily,  and  changed  the  name  to  "  Worces- 
ter Evening  Gazette,"  and  that  of  tlie  weekly  to  "  ^gis  and 
Gazette,"  removing  the  office  for  a  year  to  the  Central  Ex- 
change, and  then  removing  to  the  present  quarters  in  Butman 
Block.  Charles  H.  Doe  &  Charles  H.  Woodwell  purchased 
the  establishment.  May  3,  1869,  and  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Woodwell,  Jan.  30,  1871,  Charles  H.  Doe,  Charles  A.  Chase, 
and  Alexander  F.  Wadsworth  have  been  the  proprietors,  under 
the  firm  of  Charles  H.  Doe  &  Co.,  with  Mr.  Doe  as  manao^ing 
editor  and  publisher.  Preceding  Mr.  Doe,  May  3,  1869,  Chas. 
B.  Thomas  had  been  editor  for  two  years,  and  for  six  months 
subsequent  to  the  change  of  proprietorship,  Jan.  1,  1866,  Ger- 
man W.  Foss,  (twin  brother  of  Samuel  S.  Foss  of  the  Woon- 
socket  Patriot,)  was  the  editor.  The  "  Transcript"  became  an 
evening  paper,  Dgc.  11,  1859,  and  its  successor,  the  "  Evening 
Gazette,"  has  established  itself  as  a  permanent  institution 
among  us.  Its  manager,  Mr.  Doe,  now  in  his  ninth  year  of 
service  here,  had  had  several  years'  previous  experience  in  an 
editorial  capacity  on  the  "  Boston  Advertiser." 
Worcester  Daily  Journal. 
A  paper  called  the  "  Worcester  Daily  Journal,"  was  started 
Sept.  1,  1817,  by  James  Hartwell  Everett,  previously  of  the 
"  Transcript,"  as  publisher,  and  A.  W.  Thayer  as  editor,  office 
in  Bo  wen's  block,  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic  street.  After 
a  hiatus  of  two  weeks,  the  second  number  was  issued  Sept.  15, 
the  office  being  then  and  afterwards  at  "Bancroft's  auction- 
room"  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Excliange  streets.  Jan. 
1,  1848,  the  publishing  firm  was  changed  to  J.  H.  Everett  & 
Co.,  and  the  paper  was  discontinued  May  22,  1848.  It  was 
neutral  in  politics,  with  anti-slavery  and  temperance  leanings. 
This  paper  was  started  again,  enlarged,  Oct.  2,  1849,  by  J.  H. 
Everett  k  S.  V.  Stone,  as  publishers  and  proprietors ;  Wm. 
Hunt,  editor ;  and  J.  Addison  Allen,  printer.  A  semi-weekly 
and  weekly  were  also  started  in  connection  with  it,  the  weekly 
l)eing  called  the  "  Bay  State  Farmer  and  Mechanics'  Ledger," 
but  all  had  only  a  brief  existence,  being  discontinued  Oct.  22. 


826  Beminlscences  of  Worcester. 

Worcester  Daily  Journal. 

Another  paper  called  the  '•  Worcester  Daily  Jourxal." 
(having  no  connection  with  the  previons  paper  of  similar 
name  started  in  1847,)  was  started  Aug.  30,  1S54.  by  Higgins, 
Nichols  it  Plaisted,  in  Charles  Paine's  block,  corner  of  Main 
and  Pleasant  streets.  Oct.  1:2.  following,  the  firm  was  changed 
to  Higgins  tt  Plaisted,  the  editor  being  Rev.  David  Iliggins. 
From  Jan.  1,  1855,  Dexter  F.  Parker,  (afterwards  State  Sen- 
ator,) managed  the  paper,  as  editor  and  publisher,  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  '*  American  Republican"  or  •'  Know  Nothing''  party, 
then  just  coming  into  power  in  the  State.  From  April  3, 1855, 
it  was  published  by  Dexter  F.  Parker  alone,  as  both  editor  and 
proprietor,  at  the  same  place,  till  its  discontinuance,  May  26, 

following. 

Daily  Bay  State. 

The  "  Daily  Bay  State"  was  started,  Sept  1,  1856,  and  con- 
tinued about  a  year  and  a  half,  as  a  democratic  organ,  printed 
by  T.  W.  Caldwell,  and  edited  by  E.  W.  Lincoln,  assisted  by 
James  E.  Estabrook.  The  "  Weekly  Bay  State,"  published  in 
connection  with  it,  was  continued  for  nearly  a  year  longer  by 
T.  W.  Caldwell  as  publisher  and  printer.  The  office  was  in 
the  brick  building  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Exchange 
streets,  opposite  the  Bay  State  House,  where  the  -'  Daily  Times" 
was  afterwards  printed. 

Worcester  Daily  Times. 

The  "'  Worcester  Daily  Times  "  was  started  July  23,  1860, 
as  a  democratic  organ  by  Moses  Bates,  from  Plymouth,  as  edi- 
tor and  proprietor,  and  T.  W.  Caldwell,  printer,  in  connection 
with  a  weekly  paper  called  the  "  Worcester  County  Democrat" 
issued  on  Saturdays,  the  office  being  on  the  south  corner  of 
Main  and  Exchange  streets.  This  enterprise  was  continued 
until  Feb.  21,  1861. 

Worcester  Daily  Press. 
The  last  daily  paper  started  in  Worcester,  was  the  '•  Worces- 
ter Daily  Press,"  a  democratic  organ,  begun  April  1,  1873,  by 


Reyniniscences  of    Worcester.  327 

Edward  R.  Fiskc  k  Co.,  in  connection  witli  tlio  "  Weekly 
Press,"  office  in  Crompton's  block.  Dec.  1,  1874o  Mr.  Fiske 
relinquished  his  interest  in  the  establishment  to  his  partner, 
John  A.  Spaulding,  who  continued  the  daily  to  June  30,  1877, 
from  which  date  the  weekly  alone  has  been  printed.  There 
were  both  morning  and  evening  editions  of  the  daily  a  portion 
of  the  time. 

Evening  Budget. 

A  lively  little  daily  sheet  called  the  "  Evening  Budget,"  was 
])rintcd  for  a  sliort  time  during  the  summer  of  1847,  by  Peter 
L.  Cox  in  the  south  wing  of  the  Central  Exchange. 

Worcester  Daily  Sun. 
The  ''  Worcester  Daily  Sun"  should  not  be  forgetten  among 
the  list  of  Worcester  Dailies.     It  rose  and  set  for  tlie   first   and 
last  time  in  a  single  day,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  tliousand 
eight  liundred  and  sixty-nine. 


Veteran    Editors. 

Four  individuals  who  have  longest  wielded  the  pen  as  skilled 
journalists  in  Worcester,  are  :  Isaiah  Thomas,  John  Milton 
Earle,  John  S.  C.  Knowlton,  and  John  D.  Baldwin.  The  suc- 
cessive services  of  three  of  these,  upon  one  paper  alone,  the 
(Spy)  cover  nearly  a  century.  The  elder  Thomas  conducted 
the  paper  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  with  an  influence  un- 
equalled perhaps  by  any  journalist  of  his  time.  While  the  son 
does  not  appear  to  have  kept  up  the  reputation  of  his  father  as 
a  business  man  or  editor,  others  well  supplied  the  deficiency. 
During  the  period  that  Manning  &  Trumbull,  the  successors  of 
Isaiah  Thomas,  Jr.,  had  the  Spy,  Mr.  Earle  w^as  a  principal 
editorial  contributor,  and  with  other  parties  succeeded  them  in 
the  proprietorship,  his  editorial  connection  with  the  Spy,  com- 
prising a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  Among  the  editorial 
contributors  previous  to  Mr.  Earle,  were  William  S.  Andrews 
and  John  Davis,  afterwards  governor. 

John  Milton  Earle,  born  of  Quaker  stock,  and  himself  a  life, 
long   member  of  "  Friends'    Meeting,"    carried    much   of  the 


328  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

peculiarity  of  that  sect  into  his  editorial  work.     His  paper  was 
dated  each  week  with  Quaker  precision,  and   agreeable  to  tlie 
Quaker  formula;  and  though  he  conformed  so  far   to  common 
usage  as  to  ignore  the  "  plain  language"  in  his  editorials,  yet 
Quaker-like  he  insisted  on  a  just  and  fair  statement  of  argu- 
ment and  fact  on  all  occasions.     He  was  especially  self-reliant, 
forming  his  opinions,  and  reaching  to  conclusions  for  himself; 
and  when  once  he  had  taken  a  position,  it  needed  a  vast  shining 
of  the  ''inner  light"  to  alter  or  change  his  views.     But  then, 
men  knew  where  to  find  him,  and  always  on  the  right  side  of 
every  moral  issue  before  the  public.     He  \\rrote  with  grace  and 
elegance,  born  of  native  ability  and  the  constant  friction   of 
weekly  and  daily  duty.     Much  of  his  writings  were  in  the  vein 
of  seriousness  upon  the  weighty  matters  that  moved  the  public 
mind.     Seldom  did  he  indulge  in  humor  or  playfulness,  thougli 
he  loved  and  enjoyed  the  sharp  encounter  of  harmless  wit.     On 
one  occasion  only  do  we  remember  him  as  a  writer  of  fiction. 
It  was  a  little  story  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  column  in  length, 
entitled  "  Truth  is  strange,  stranger  than  fiction" — the  nub  of 
which  was,  "  I  advertise."     It  went  the  rounds  of  the  press 
forty  years  ago  when  it  was  written,  and  regularly  every  two 
or  three  years  it  comes  up  to  view  as  it  moves  onward  in  its  un- 
ceasing revolution.     He  wrote  an  easy,  flowing,  running  hand, 
clear  and  distinct,  indicating  none  of  the  tremulousness  of  ago 
in  his  later  years.     Every  letter  stood  out  in  its   individuality, 
seemingly  as  self-reliant  as  the  writer.     His  "  copy"  would  have 
been  unexceptionable,  had  it  not  been  for  what  he  supposed  was 
an  economical  habit  of  his,  of  writing  it  upon  scraps  of  waste  pa- 
per, wrappers  and  margins  of  newspapers,  old   envelopes,  any- 
thing at  hand  that  had  an  inch  or  two  of  blank  surface  unused. 
A  cotemporary,  in  alluding  to  this  habit,  in  the  notice  given  of 
his  decease,  says  of  him  :     "  During  his  service  as  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  writing  his  leaders  in 
the  cars  on  the  way  to  Worcester,  at  night,  frequently  pencilling 
his  criticisms  on  public  men  and  measures  on  the  blank  margin 
of  the  Boston  Journal.     His  penmanship  was  singularly  clear 
and  beautiful,  and,  although  the  reception  of  an  entire  Journal 
as  the  '  copy'  for  a  leader  was  the  subject  of  many  jokes  in  the 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  329 

composition  room,   the   printer  who  drew  the   'take'  seldom 
had  any  difficulty  in  reading  the  manuscript." 

Hon.  John  D.  Baldwin,  the  senior  partner,  publishing  tlie  Spy, 
who  is  in  liis  nineteenth  year  of  service  as  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Earle  in  the  editorial  management  of  the  Spy,  had  previously 
had  eleven  years  experience  as  a  newspaper  editor  and  man- 
ager, beginning  with  the  "  Hartford  (Conn.)  Republican"  in 
1848,  subsequently  of  the  "  Boston  Daily  Commonwealth,"  then 
the  leading  organ  of  the  Free  Soil  or  the  Republican  party  in 
the  State,  and  afterwards  of  the  "  Boston  Evening  Telegraph," 
and  other  journals.  Mr  Baldwin  was  a  delegate  to  the  Re- 
])ublican  National  Convention  which  first  nominated  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1860,  and  was  representative  in  Congress  from  this 
district  from   1863  to  1869. 

Hon.  John  S.  C.  Knowlton,  who  wielded  the  editorial  pen 
with  uncommon  ability  and  grace  for  over  forty-one  years, 
until  his  decease  in  1871,  was  sole  proprietor,  during  that 
whole  period,  of  the  paper  started  by  himself,  (the  Palladium) 
which  subsequently  became  merged  in  the  Spy.  He  was  a 
strong  supporter  of  the  coalition  between  the  Democrats  and 
the  Free  Soilers  begun  in  1850,  mayor  of  Worcester  in  1851 
and  1852,  State  senator  in  1853  and  1854,  member  of  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1853,  and  sheriff  of  the  county 
for  over  fourteen  years  from  January,  1857,  to  his  decease, 
July  1,  1871.  As  an  editor,  however,  he  was  best  known  to 
the  interests  and  politics  of  the  great  public  outside  of  Worces- 
ter. His  articles  were  always  fair  in  their  representations  of 
an  opponent  or  an  opposing  measure,  candid  and  clear  in  their 
exposition  of  his  own  views,  and  solid  in  their  argumentative 
arrangement.  He  was  judicious  in  his  selections.  His  copy 
was  the  delight  of  the  compositors,  always  prepared  to  a  nicety 
as  he  wanted  it  to  go  in  the  paper.  His  manuscript  was  an 
old  fashioned  round  hand,  plain  as  print.  If  the  compositor 
"  followed  copy"  in  word  and  punctuation,  the  proof  never  came 
back  with  ''  changes"  and  "  alterations,"  those  common  excit- 
ants  to  grumbling  and  profanity  in  a  printing  office.     His  wit 

42 


330  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

was  sharp  and  dry  and  to  the  point.  We  remember  an  instance 
which  tickled  the  public  amazingly  at  the  time.  He  and  the 
editor  of  the  Spy  were  opposing-  candidates  for  the  legislature, 
and  of  course  he  was  defeated,  as  he  knew,  and  everybody  knew 
he  would  be,  as  parties  stood  in  those  days.  Everybody  was 
on  tip-toe  to  see  what  he  would  say  about  the  matter  in  the 
next  Palladium — and  everybody  was  on  the  broad  grin,  when 
they  saw  what  he  did  say  in  about  five  lines.  He  made  the  an- 
nouncement something  like  this,  according  to  our  best  recollec- 
tion, "The  editor  of  the  Spy  has  been  elected  to  go  to  Boston 
this  winter,  and  the  editor  of  the  Palladium  has  been  elected  to 
stay  at  home.      The  people  kneiv  ivhicli  they  could  spare  best  P^ 

William  Lincoln,  the  accomplished  historian,  as  well  as  edi- 
tor, whose  pen,  probably,  did  more  for  the  old  J^gis  than  that 
of  any  other  one  man,  and  Austin  Denny  of  the  Yeoman,  were 
removed  by  death  in  the  midst  of  their  early  careers — Mr.  Den- 
ny at  35,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  at  42.  The  latter  had  outlined  a 
plan  of  future  literary  effort,  which  would  have  required  the 
full  life  time  of  an  octogenarian  to  have  executed,  and  would 
have  been  of  untold  benefit  to  those  coming  after  him,  in  the 
result  of  his  indefatigable  historical  researches.  In  1837  and 
1838,  under  the  administration  of  Gov.  Everett,  he  gathered 
and  edited  the  journals  of  the  Provincial  Congresses,  Commit- 
tees of  Safety,  the  several  county  conventions,  etc.,  held  during 
the  years  1774  and  1775,  comprising  more  than  800  pages — 
making  an  exceedingly  valuable  historical  contribution  to  the 
history  of  the  country.  His  "  History  of  Worcester,"  publish- 
ed in  1836,  is  but  one  of  many  of  like  character  he  would  have 
probably  given  us  on  the  subject,  had  he  lived  to  carry  out 
his  designs.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  a  fund  of  humor  which  honored 
every  draft  made  upon  it.  Our  older  citizens  remember  with 
delight  the  series  of  reports  made  by  him  as  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Swine  of  the  Agricultural  Society,  from  year  to 
year,  which,  for  raciness,  satire  and  keenness  of  wit,  have  never 
been  equalled  anywhere  by  anybody.  For  once  he  consented 
to  act  as  chairman  of  the  swine  committee  at  the  New  York 
State  Fair  at  Albany,  and  his  report  was  said  by  the  papers 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  331 

there  "  to  be  tlie  great  feature  of  the  day."  It  is  supposed  he 
had  a  hand  in  tlie  selectiou  of  tlie  last  committee  with  whom 
lie  acted  in  this  capacity  at  tiie  Worcester  Fair,  for  though 
chosen  from  the  extremes  of  tlie  county  they  all  bore  the  ap- 
propriate family  name  of  "  Bacon." 

Gov.  Bullock  and  Samuel  F.  Haven,  Esq.,  each  contributed 
valuable  editorial  services  to  the  ^gis  for  many  years. 

Delano  A.  Goddard,  for  ten  years  past  of  the  Boston  Adver- 
tiser, was  assistant  editor  of  the  Spy  from  1859  to  1867,  and  J. 
Evarts  Greene  has  been  assistant  editor  from  1869  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  political  character  which  has  always  been  a 
marked  feature  of  the  Spy,  necessitates  a  combination  of  edi- 
torial effort,  in  the  management  of  both  its  news  and  political 
departments. 


Veteran  Printers. 
We  have  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  various  publica- 
tions that  have  issued  from  the  Worcester  press,  the  names  of 
the  individuals  and  firms  that  have  been  in  business  as  master 
printers  in  the  city  and  town.  We  append  a  more  extended 
notice  of  some  of  them,  with  whom  we  have  had  an  individual 
acquaintance  within  the  last  forty  years,  and  who  have  occupied 
greater  or  less  prominent  positions  in  life  ;  as  also  some  notices 
of  the  veterans  who  are  still  working  at  the  business  in  sub- 
ordinate capacities. 

Daniel  Ward,  son  of  the  late  Artemas  Ward,  register  of  deeds,  is  the 
oldest  printer  in  Worcester,  or  the  one  who  earliest  learned  the  trade,  not 
being  now  in  the  service.  He  went  as  apprentice  in  the  Spy  office  in  1821, 
after  serving  as  clerk  two  years  in  the  bookstore  of  George  A.  Trumbull, 
who  kept  the  bookstore  in  the  Oliver  Fiske  building  before  Clarendon  Har- 
ris. Mr.  Ward  went  from  the  Spy  printing  office  in  September,  1823,  to 
that  of  the  Massachusetts  Yeoman,  then  just  started  by  Austin  Denny, 
where  he  worked  several  years  till  he  went  to  West  Brookfield,  working  in 
the  latter  place  several  years  in  the  old  printing  office  of  Ebenezer  Merriam 
till  1831.  Among  his  fellow  workmen  in  Mr.  Merriam's  office  were  the  late 
Moses  Spooner  and  Ephraim  Ward  Bartlett  of  Worcester,  who  learned  their 
trade  of  Mr.  Merriam,  and  came  to  Worcester  about  1827.  After  traveling 
west  and  south  a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Ward  returned  to  Worcester  and 
worked  several  years  at  the  printing  business  for  H.  J.  Howland  and  others, 
and  in  1845  entered  upon  his  present  duties  as  searcher  of  records  and  ex- 
aminer of  titles  in  the  registry  of  deeds.  Mr.  Ward  is  great-grandson  of 
the  original  settler,  Daniel  Ward,  (see  page  31.) 


332  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Henry  J.  Hoavland,  after  serving  an  apprenticeship  for  seven  years  to  the 
printing  business  in  Boston,  came  to  "Worcester,  Oct.  26,  1831,  and  bought 
of  the  hite  Moses  Spooner,  tlien  of  the  firm  of  vSpooner  &.  (church,  his  half  of 
the  printing  office  in  "  Goddard's  Row,"  in  which  were  printed  the  "  Mas- 
sachusetts Yeoman"  and  "  AYorcester  County  Republican,"  and  a  variety  of 
job  work,  but  the  business  not  proving  satisfactory,  after  a  few  months,  lie 
sold  out  to  his  brother,  S.  A.  Howland,  (of  the  firm  of  Dorr  &  Rowland, 
booksellers,)  and  returned  to  Boston.  In  July,  1835,  immediately  after  the 
completion  of  the  railroad  from  Boston,  Mr.  Howland  again  came  to  Worces- 
ter, and  set  up  a  press  with  a  small  but  select  assortment  of  types,  &c..  in  a 
wooden  building  located  where  "  Piper's  Block"  now  stands,  and  established 
the  book  and  job  printing  business  in  which  he  continued  over  thirty  ^-ears. 
He  at  first  worked  alone,  but  soon  found  helpers  necessary,  and  after  three 
months  removed  to  a  larger  room  in  Goddard's  Row,"  adjoining  the  room  he 
formerly  o:?cupied.  Here  he  was  associated  in  business  for  a  short  time,  in 
1838,  witn  the  late  Samuel  H.  Colton,  and  afterwards  for  about  three  years 
with  Moses  Spooner.  About  18-10,  the  office  AA'as  removed  to  the  Healy-Burn- 
side  Hall,  an  old  building  still  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  store  of  A.  L.  Bur- 
bank,  which  had  previous!}^  been  occupied  as  a  masonic  hall,  and  for  sing- 
ing sehojls,  dancing  and  other  purposes.  In  1850,  the  office  was  removed  to 
the  rooms  now  occupied  by  Geo.  C.  Whitney,  and  after  three  years,  to  the 
more  convenient  rooms  then  just  vacated  by  the  Spy  printing  and  publishing 
office  in  Butraan's  row,  where  it  still  remains  in  operation,  in  the  ownership 
of  A.  B.  Adams.. 

During  the  first  three  years,  Mr.  Howland  printed  an  edition  of  Lincoln's 
History  of  Worcester,  and  the  catalogue  of  books  in  the  American  Antiqua- 
rian Society,  with  several  smaller  hooks  and  many  pamphlets,  and  afterwards 
many  volumes  of  law  and  historical  works,  for  publishers  at  home  and  abroad, 
besides  many  publications  on  his  own  account,  including  the  "  Worcester 
Almanac,  Directory  and  Business  Advertiser,"  twenty-eight  years  from  1844 
to  1871,  and  eveiy  variety  of  pamphlet  and  business  printing.  Besides  these, 
he  commenced  in  1832,  the  *'  Family  Visitor,"  a  local  religious  weekly 
paper,  which  was  continued  for  some  months  by  Moses  ^V'.  Grout.  In  July, 
1838,  the  "  Christian  Reflector,"  a  weekly  Baptist  Anti-Slavery  paper,  edit- 
ed by  Rev.  Cyrus  P.  Grosvenor,  and  published  by  a  board  of  managers,  was 
commenced  in  his  office,  and  printed  for  them  for  three  years  and  a  half,  when 
it  was  removed  to  Boston,  and  afterwards  united  with  the  "  Christian 
Watchman."  For  about  eight  months,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Grosvenor,  the 
editorial  charge  ot  the  Reflector  was  left  with  Mr.  Howland.  For  eight  years 
from  1849,  the  "  Sunday  School  Gazette,"  edited  at  first  by  Rev.  E.  £.  Hale, 
was  printed  once  in  two  weeks  by  Mr.  Howland  for  the  Cnitarian  Sunday 
School  Society.  Elihu  Burritt's  "  Christian  Citizen"  was  printed  by  him 
for  two  years  ;  and  also  the  "  Advocate  of  Peace,"  the  monthly  organ  of  the 
American  Peace  Society,  edited  by  Mr.  Burritt,  for  several  years  subsequent 
to  1847.  Dr.  Calvin  Newton's  "  Medical  Eclectic,"  afterwards  the  "•  Wor- 
cester Journal  of  Medicine,"  was  printed  at  his  office  monthly  several  years, 
till  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Newton  in  1853.  Previous  to  the  election  in 
the  fall  of  ls60,  the  "  Worcester  Republican,"  a  campaign  paper  edited  in 
the  interest  ot  Hon.  Eli  Thayer,  by  Thomas  M.  Lamb,  was  printed  in  this 
office  weekly  for  eleven  weeks. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Howland  sold  his  printing  office  and  business  to  two  of  his 
employees,  Messrs.  Adams  &  Brown,  (the  first  of  whom  still  continues  the 
business.)  He  is  still  to  some  extent  engaged  in  the  business,  though  not 
at  present  owning  an  office.  Having  finished  his  three  score  A'cars,  ]\Ir. 
Howland  shows  no  sign  of  decline  in  physical  or  intellectual  vigor,  but  ex- 
hibits the  strength  and  robust  figure  of  his  best  daj-s. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  338 

James  Lawrence  Estey  is  the  second  oldest  practical  printer  in  the  city. 
lie  learned  his  trade  with  Griffin  &  Morrill,  printers  and  publishers  of  the 
National  ^gis,  beginning  in  March,  1829,  when  the  office  was  in  the  old 
Fiske  building,  After  finishing  his  time,  he  went  to  Lowell,  where  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Dearborn  &  Estey,  he  published  for  a  time  the  Lowell 
Patriot.  He  resided  in  New  York  City  from  1834  to  1840.  He  returned  to 
Worcester  in  1840,  taking  a  position  in  the  Spy  office.  In  1855,  he  removed 
to  Pawtucket,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  job  printing  and  lithographic 
business  as  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Pearce  &  Estey.  He  came  back  to  Wor- 
cester in  1856,  and  was  foreman  for  H.  J.  Howland  until  1862,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  with  Charles  Hamilton  in  the  job  department  of  the  Pal- 
ladium office. 

Edward  R.  Fiske  commenced  his  trade  in  Worcester  in  October,  1837, 
with  Mirick  &  Bartlett,  on  the  "  Worcester  Palladium"  and  ''  AVorcester 
Republican,"  the  latter  being  afterwards  merged  in  the  "  Palladium."  Mr. 
Fiske  fjrmed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  D.  Cliurch  in  May,  1841,  under  the 
firm  of'"  Church  &  Fiske."  Tl  ey  published  of  the"  Worcester  Waterfall,"  a 
temperance  paper,  afterwards  burned  in  the  fire  of  the  "  Central  Exchange" 
in  1813.  The  "  Waterfall"  Avas  then  sold  to  Jesse  W.  Goodrich,  publisher 
of  '•  The  Cataract."  After  the  fire.  Church  &  Fiske  printed  the  Palladium 
fin*  three  years  in  the  Central  Exchange.  Mr.  Fiske  was  then  engaged  for  a 
few  months  printing  the  State  Sentinel  with  R.  B.  Hancock,  and  sold  out  to 
Peter  L.  Cox.  He  was  afterwards  connected  with  the  Spy  as  book-keeper 
for  some  years. 

Mr.  Fiske  began  business  as  a  book  and  job  printer  in  November,  1851,  in 
Flagg's  block,  and  was  burned  out  there  in  1853.  He  bought  the  Daily  and 
Weekly  Transcript  in  April,  1855,  with  Werden  Reynolds,  and  they  publish- 
ed it  one  year,  and  then  transferred  it  to  Wm.  R.  Hooper.  Mr.  Fiske  be- 
gan the  publication  of  the  "Worcester  Daily  Press,"  April  1,  1873,  in 
Crompton's  block  on  Mechanic  street,  where  he  has  been  located  since  its 
erection  in  1860,  his  location  having  been  for  several  years  previous  on 
Foster  street.  Mr.  Fiske  relinquished  his  connection  with  the  "Press" 
newspaper  in  Dec.  1874,  transterring  his  interest  therein  to  his  previous 
partner,  J.  A.  Spaulding. 

Moses  Sfooner,  who  came  here  about  1827  from  Brookfield,  where  he 
learned  his  trade  of  Ebenezer  Merriam,  was  connected  here  for  several  years 
with  different  partners  in  the  printing  business,  (as  stated  elsewhere,)  after 
which  he  did  the  press  work  fur  the  following  newspapers,  as  a  specialty, 
having  his  office  from  about  1841  in  the  basement  of  the  Healy-Burnside 
Hall,  afterwards  on  Pearl  street,  and  lastly  in  Butman  Block  :  Daily  and 
VV^eekly  Spy,  National  ^^gis,  Christian  Reflector,  Christian  Citizen,  Cataract 
and  Waterfall,  Monthly  Temperance  Journal,  Daily  Journal,  Daily  Tran- 
script and  Weekly  JEgis  and  Transcript,  Evening  Gazette  and  Weekly  ^gis 
and  Gazette.     Mr.  Spooner  died  April  26,  1867,  aged  63. 

Ephraim  Ward  Bartlett  came  here  about  1827,  from  Brookfield,  where 
he  learned  his  trade  of  Ebenezer  Merriam,  and  after  working  awhile  on  the 
"  Yeoman,"  went  into  company  with  Charles  A.  Mirick,  in  the  Central  Ex- 
change. He  was  the  first  regular  letter-carrier  or  "penny  post,"  in  Wor- 
cester, remaining  in  the  service  from  1849  until  the  day  of  his  death,  April 
13,  1872,  aged  59. 

Elias  T.  Bemis  came  here  in  1838,  and  learned  his  trade  of  Mirick  & 
Bartlett  in  the  Central  Exchange.  He  has  been  foreman  of  the  coinposinc 
department  of  the  Spy  office  since  1853. 


334  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  of  the  firm  of  Tyler  &  Seagrave,  now  proprietors  of 
the  Job  and  Book  department  of  the  old  Spy  office,  where  both  partners 
learned  their  trade,  is  the  fourth  in  age  among  the  older  printers  in  the  city. 
He  is  a  native  of  Smithfield,  R.  I.  ;  was  born  in  the  "  Thornton  house"  near 
Slatersville,  where  the  first  Quaker  school  in  New  England  was  kept  for 
many  years  by  the  celebrated  Edward  Thornton  ;  was  educated  at  the  Smith- 
field  Academy  under  the  instruction  of  Prof.  James  Bushee,  (now  of  Wor- 
cester) ;  was  a  seat-mate  at  this  institution  of  Samuel  S.  Foss  of  the  Woon- 
socket  Patriot  ;  worked  at  farming  a  season  for  Wm.  0.  Bartlett,  Esq.,  now 
occupying  the  front  rank  among  the  leading  lawyers  of  New  York  City,  and 
by  his  recommendation  found  an  opportunity  to  learn  the  printing  business 
with  John  Milton  Earle,  the  publisher  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy.  He  came 
to  Worcester,  the  first  day  of  December,  1838,  on  the  top  of  the  Providence 
stage.  Here  the  amplest  opportunity  was  afforded  a  boy  of  literary  taste  to 
gratify  his  desires  in  that  direction — the  newspapers  of  the  day  and  the  peri- 
odical literature  of  the  time,  with  ample  files  ol  the  best  and  standard  maga- 
zines of  the  past  thirty  years  were  at  his  disposal  after  working  hours.  That 
he  revelled  among  the  good  things  thus  accessible  hardly  needs  to  be  stated 
here.  Of  course,  he  began  to  write.  During  his  apprenticeship,  the  AVor- 
cester  Magazine  was  commenced,  edited  by  J.  Milton  Thayer,  Esq.,  now  gov- 
ernor of  Nebraska.  It  was  printed  at  the  Spy  office.  The  contributors  to 
this  publication  were  among  the  leading  literary  men  of  Worcester, — Dr. 
Hill,  Dr.  Smalley,  Gov.  VVashburn,  S.  F.  Haven,  Esq.,  William  Lincoln, 
Elihu  Barritt  and  others.  It  seemed  an  act  of  temerity,  but  the  print- 
er's boy  ventured  one  day  to  put  a  contribution  for  the  magazine  in  the 
hands  of  the  editor.  He  received  it  with  an  expression  of  countenance 
which  plainly  indicated  his  misgivings  concerning  its  acceptance.  Before 
the  day  was  over,  however,  the  ci^ntribution  was  put  in  the  foreman's  hands 
with  orders  to  put  it  in  type  for  the  magazine — the  editor  remarking  he 
''  was  never  more  surprised  in  his  life  at  anything,  than  in  reading  the  boy's 
article."  This  was  not  the  last  of  his  writing  fur  the  magazine.  He  con- 
tributed much  anonymously  to  the  papers  here  and  in  Boston,  and  seldom 
was  it  that  an  article  failed  to  appear  when  thus  contributed.  We  can  re- 
member a  series  of  conmiunications  to  the  Emancipator  (Boston)  the  organ 
of  the  Liberty  party,  in  reply  to  a  series  of  articles  signed  "  Lex"  in  the 
Spy  aimed  at  tne  motives  and  purposes  of  that  party,  which  for  terseness 
and  vigor  were  so  far  models  in  their  way  as  to  be  ascribed  to  the  pens  of 
quite  a  number  of  the  prominent  Liberty  party  leaders  here, — nobody  o.ice 
thinking  of  the  boy  in  the  printing  office,  who  quietly  kept  his  own  counsel. 

In  the  meantime  the  b  »y  was  attentive  to  his  business,  and  was  rapidly 
advanced  from  the  menial  duties  of  the  younger  apprentices  to  the  responsi- 
ble work  which  had  usually  been  allotted  to  the  eldest  in  the  office.  Inherit- 
ing a  good  degree  of  mechanical  talent,  it  was  easy  for  him  to  do  things  re- 
quiring skill,  which  were  difficult  or  beyond  the  ability  of  many  other  boys 
to  do.  Apprenticeship  in  those  days  always  extended  until  the  boy  was  21 
years  of  age — the  compensation,  board  and  $30  for  the  first  year,  $35  for 
the  second,  $40  for  the  third,  and  so  increasing  until  it  reached  $50.  Be- 
fore the  regular  close  of  his  apprenticeship,  the  boy  was  promoted  to  a  fore- 
manship  in  a  new  office  by  the  liberality  of  his  employer.  Daring  the  ex- 
citement of  the  Clay  campaign  in  1844,  there  was  an  impromptu  celebration 
of  the  4th  of  July  by  the  Whigs  of  Barre — and  on  the  occasion  the  necessity 
for  a  new  Whig  paper  for  that  section  was  discussed  and  resolved  upon,  and  in 
two  week's  time  500  subscribers  were  obtained,  the  printing  material  pur- 
chased, help  secured,  and  on  the  2Gth,  the  first  number  of  the  Barre  Patriot 
was  issued  with  the  name  of  Albert  Tyler  on  the  sheet  as  printer.  The  sub- 
scription rapidly  went  up  to  a  circulation  of  1500.     Here  he  remained  for  five 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  335 

years  with  Br3'ant  &  Hill,  N.  F.  Bryant,  Brj^ant  &  Aldrich  and  P.  Emory 
Aldrich  as  the  successive  editors  and  pulDlishers,  between  whom  and  their 
foreman  the  kindest  relations  always  existed.  They  recognized  his  literary 
abilities,  and  when  legal  business  pressed  them  they  had  no  special  anxiety 
concerning  the  paper  or  that  the  help  would  be  idle  for  want  of  copy.  While 
in  Barre,  young  Tyler  dabbled  somewhat  in  wood-engraving,  and  without 
instruction  made  some  very  creditable  pictures. 

In  1849,  he  left  Barre  and  returned  to  Worcester,  purchasing  the  Pal- 
ladium printing  office  in  partnership  with  Charles  Hamilton,  but  remaining 
a  little  more  than  two  years  in  this  connexion.  After  disposing  of  his  inter- 
est in  the  printing  office  to  his  partner,  he  remained  some  six  months  in 
charge  of  the  editorial  and  business  department  of  the  Palladium,  during  the 
service  of  Mr.  Knowlton  in  the  Senate  and  Constitutional  Convention  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  then  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist  Society  of  Oxford, 
Mass,  where  he  remained  two  years,  the  society  then  refusing  to  accept  his 
resignation.  He  felt  it  his  duty,  however,  to  adhere  to  his  determination  of 
leaving.  He  was  immediately  settled  over  the  society  in  Granby,  Conn., 
where  he  remained  for  six  years  with  one  of  the  most  united  and  active 
country  parishes  in  his  denomination.  He  left  them  at  last  contrary  to  their 
unanimous  wishes,  but  circumstances  compel  men  sometimes  to  a  change, 
when  their  heads  and  their  hearts  are  not  in  unison  with  the  change.  A  lit- 
tle incident  occurred  during  his  pastorship  here,  which  attests  his  printing 
house  drill.  The  churches  in  Connecticut  had  an  arrangement  with  one  of 
the  denominational  papers  for  a  column  each  week  under  the  head  of"  Con- 
necticut Department,"  the  matter  for  which  was  to  be  furnished  by  the  pas- 
tors, and  to  be  under  the  general  editorship  of  the  State  missionary.  On  one 
occasion  the  editor  was  speaking  to  one  of  the  older  clergymen  of  the  help 
he  got  from  the  pastors,  and  said  to  him,  "  There's  only  one  among  my  con- 
tributors whose  copy  I  don't  have  to  fix  up  in  some  way  before  I  send  it  to 
the  printers.  Bro.  Tyler  of  Granby  always  sends  his,  plainly  written,  pro- 
perly capitalized  and  punctuated,  and  ready  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
compositor."  The  reply  was,  "  I  should  think  he  might,  he  was  educated 
in  a  printing  office  !" 

From  Granby  Mr.  Tyler  went  to  Quincy,  Mass.,  where  he  was  pastor  of 
the  Universalist  Society  when  the  war  broke  out.  The  times  unsettled 
everything,  and  unsettled  him.  He  came  back  to  Worcester,  and  in  order 
to  have  something  to  do,  bought,  in  connexion  with  Mr.  Seagrave.  the  Job 
department  of  the  old  office,  where  he  was  an  apprentice.  Since  then  he  has 
been  here,  these  sixteen  years — constant  in  business — preaching  when  op- 
portunity offers — a  minute  man  in  his  denomination.  Need  we  say  more. 
His  work,  is  it  not  known,  as  he  is  known  in  all  the  region? 

William  A.  Wallace,  who  came  here  from  Canaan,  N.  H.,  about  1839, 
and  went  into  partnership  first  with  Charles  A.  Mirick,  and  afterwards  with 
Joseph  B.  Ripley,  was  subsequently  foreman  in  the  Spy  office  from  July  1, 
1842,  to  July  1,  1850,  acting  also  more  or  less  as  assistant  editor  for  Mr. 
Earle  during  a  portion  of  the  time,  and  taking  an  active  part  in  the  "  free 
soil"  campaign  of  1848  and  1849.  After  closing  his  connection  with  the 
Spy  office,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  spent  many  years,  traveling  ex- 
tensively in  that  new  country. 

Benjamin  J.  Dodge  came  to  the  city  about  1842,  and  became  an  apprentice 
to  the  printing  business  at  H.  J.  Howland's  recently  started  office  in  the 
Healy-Burnside  house.  He  purchased  the  Palladium  printing  office  in  1846 
of  Samuel  D.  Church,  and  sold  out  in  1849  to  Tyler  &  Hamilton,  since  which 
time  he  has  filled  the  position  of  foreman  in  the  same  office,  under  his  suc- 
cessors and  for  Charles  Hamilton,  the  present  proprietor. 


336  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Charles  Hamiltox,  the  late  publisher  of  the  Palladium,  and  still  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  printing  office,  received  his  first  instructions  in  the  art  of  type- 
setting at  the  office  of  the  Barre  Gazette  published  in  his  native  town.  He 
worked  on  the  "  Omnium  Gatherum"  for  R.  B.  Hancock  in  1845,  and  on  the 
Worcester  Transcript  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1846.  Afterwards  he  held 
for  some  time  a  compositor's  situation  in  the  Boston  Journal  office,  from 
which  place  he  came  to  Worcester  in  1849,  and  associated  himself  with 
Albert  Tyler  under  the  business  name  of  Tyler  &  Hamilton.  This  firm  be- 
came the  proprietors  of  the  Palladium  printing  office.  In  1851,  he  purchased 
Mr.  Tyler's  share  of  the  concern,  and  since  that  time  has,  up  to  the  present, 
most  successfully  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  business  way. 

Theodore  H.  Bartlett  came  to  Worcester  in  1843,  learned  the  printer's 
trade  of  Church  &  Prentiss  in  the  Central  Exchange,  on  the  Palladium,  and 
worked  several  years  on  the  Cataract  and  Waterfall,  and  Temperance  Jour- 
nal, was  clerk  in  the  Post  Office  from  1853  to  1872,  and  has  since  been  em- 
ployed in  various  capacities  in  the  departments  of  the  city  government. 

Daniel  Seagrave  came  to  Worcester  in  June,  1849,  and  learned  the  print- 
ter's  trade  at  the  Spy  office.  During  the  last  years  of  his  apprenticeship  he 
acted  as  foreman  of  the  composition-room  of  the  "  Chrirstian  Citizen,"  then 
printed  at  the  same  office.  He  was  foreman  of  the  book  and  job  printing  de- 
partment of  the  Spy  office  until  he  purchased  that  department,  in  1861,  in 
company  with  Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  with  whom  he  is  still  in  partnership,  un- 
der the  firm  of  Tyler  &  Seagrave,  their  office  being  in  the  same  building  with 
the  Spy,     They  are  the  printers  of  this  work. 


ADDITIONAL   GENEALOGIES. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

The  Chapin  Family. 

Benjamin  Chapin,  born  in  1712,  came  to  Worcester  from 
Uxbridgc  before  1760,  with  his  sons  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Eli  and 
Thaddeus,  and  settled  upon  the  original  estate  on  the  edge  of 
Auburn,  afterwards  occupied  by  his  son,  Eli  Chapin,  on  the  west 
side  of  Pakachoag  Hill,  the  old  house  being  torn  down  many 
years  ago.  His  sou  Thaddeus  resided  in  the  large  square 
house  still  standing,  north  of  the  site  of  the  other,  where  Thad- 
deus' son,  the  late  Dea.  Lewis  Chapin,  for  a  long  time  lived. 
Thaddeus  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Joshua  Whitney,  and 
Eli  married  a  sister  of  Timothy  Taft  from  Uxbridge,  who  re- 
sided upon  the  Wm.  Goss  place  on  Pakachoag  hill.  Of  Eli  and 
Thaddeus'  sisters,  Zilpali  married  Capt.  Peter  Slater,  who  at 
one  time  resided  upon  the  place,  (afterwards  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  Wm.  Goss,  senior,)  and  Eunice  married  Nathan 
White,  who  resided  upon  the  estate  north  of  the  Dea.  Lewis 
Chapin  place,  the  old  house,  a  very  ancient  one,  still  standing. 

Benjamin  Chapin,  senior,  died  at  the  original  Chapin  home- 
stead in  Worcester,  May  6, 1782,  aged  70.  His  son,  Benjamin, 
Jr.,  born  Dec.  24,  1751,  was  one  of  Capt.  Wm.  Gates'  company 
in  Col.  Jonathan  Holman's  regiment  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  died  in  the  service,  Aug.  25,  1776. 

Eli  Chapin,  born  April  29,  1754,  was  one  of  Col.  Timothy 
Bigelow's  company  of  minute  men  who  marched  for  Lexington, 
April  19,  1775,  and  afterwards  of  Capt.  Jonas  Hubbard's  com- 
pany. He  had  seven  children  :  1st,  Polly,  who  married  a 
Blake  of  Wrentham;  2d,  Cynthia,  married  in  1801,  Josiah 
43 


338  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Rice,  Jr.,  of  Worcester,  (son  of  the  Josiali  Rice  mentioned  on 
page  43,  who  married  Elizabeth  Trowbridge,)  and  after  his 
death  in  1814,  aged  34,  Cynthia  married  in  1819,  Jonathan 
Flagg,  and  their  daughter  married  Wm.  C.  Whiting  of  Wor- 
cester ;  3d,  Chloe,  married  a  Watson  of  Leicester  ;  4th,  Sally, 
married  a  Young  of  Worcester  ;  5th,  Relief,  married  James 
Campbell  of  Worcester,  now  in  his  88th  year  ;  6th  and  7th, 
Rufus  and  Taft  Chapin,  died  young. 

Thaddeus  Chapin,  born  April  10,  1756,  had  seven  children  : 
1st,  Dr.  Benjamin,  born  May  20,  1781,  married  Comfort  Ban- 
croft for  his  first  wife,  and  a  sister  of  Whipple  W.  Patch  for  his 
second  wife,  and  had  two  children,  Benjamin  and  Clark  ;  2d, 
Luther,  born  Oct.  5,  1783,  had  a  son  Luther  Chapin,  Jr.,  now 
of  Ware,  father  of  Capt.  Charles  S.  Chapin  of  Worcester;  3d, 
Jemima  Chapin,  born  July  12,  1785,  married  Wm.  Coes  of 
Worcester,  a  blacksmith,  whose  shop  was  that  afterwards  oc- 
cu|  ied  by  Samuel  Boyden,  and  subsequently  by  Capt.  Leonard 
Poole,  on  the  south  side  of  Mechanic  street ;  4th,  Catherine, 
born  March  17,  1787,  married  in  Connecticut;  5th,  Dorothy, 
born  Nov.  4,  1789,  married  Wm.  Trowbridge,  now  of  Sheboy- 
gan, Wisconsin,  in  his  88th  year,  son  of  Dea.  Wm.  Trowbridge 
of  Worcester;  6th,  Dea.  Lewis  Chapin,  born  May  27,  1792, 
died  Nov.  25,  1874,  and  married  Aschsah,  daughter  of  Dea. 
Wm.  Trowbridge  ;  7th,  Leonard  Chapin,  born  July  19,  1801. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Chapin,  who  died  in  1835,  aged  54,  resided  in 
the  large  square  house  now  on  the  east  corner  of  Mechanic  and 
Carlton  streets  which  stood  originally  on  the  site  of  Dr.  F.  H. 
Kelley's  block  on  the  east  corner  of  Front  and  Carlton  streets. 
William  and  Jemima  (Chapin)  Coes  had  a  daughter  Nancy, 
who  married  Joel  Marble,  one  of  the  first  'principals  of  the 
Worcester  Academy,  who  was  father  of  Manton  Marble,  editor 
of  the  New  York  World.  This  William  was  uncle  of  the  pres- 
ent Loring  and  Wm.  W.  Coes  of  Worcester,  who  are  cousins. 

The  Chapin  family  in  this  country  are  descendants  of  Dea. 
Samuel  Chapin,  who  came  from  England  about  1635,  with  five 
children  to  Roxbury,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Spring- 
field in  1642.  Two  other  children  were  born  there.  His  fifth 
child,  sergeant  Josiah  Chapin,  (grandfather  of  the  first  Ben- 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  339 

jainin  Chapiu  of  Worcester,)  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Mendon  about  1681,  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  for 
several  years  following,  &c.  He  had  a  son  Seth,  and  the  lat- 
ter had  a  son  Seth,  Jr.,  who  was  brother  of  the  first  Benjamin 
of  Worcester.  This  Seth  Chapin,  Jr.,  of  Mendon,  had  a  son 
Moses,  father  of  David,  who  was  father  of  Elisha,  of  that  part 
of  old  Mendon,  now  Upton,  Elisha  being  father  of  Hon.  Henry 
Chapin  of  Worcester.  Moses  S.  Chapin  of  Worcester  is  son  of 
Nathan  Chapin  of  Upton,  a  brother  of  David  Chapin  above 
mentioned. 

Timothy  Taft,  who  came  here  from  Uxbridge,  and  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  the  first  Benjamin  Chapin,  and  resided 
upon  the  estate  on  Pakaclioag  hill  for  many  years  past  of 
Ma^^us  Barrett  and  A.  W.  Ward,  had  five  children :  1st, 
Sullivan,  married  Sally  Flagg,  sister  of  Benjamin  Flagg ;  2d, 
Polly,  married  Peter  Foster ;  3d,  Adolphus,  married  Polly 
Upham;  4th,  David,  married  Azubah  Elder;  5th,  Joseph, 
married  a  daughter  of  Levi  Adams. 

Nathan  White,  (son  of  Peter  White  of  Uxbridge,)  was  born 
there,  June  10,  1755,  and  married  Eunice,  (daughter  of  the 
first  Benjamin  Chapin.)  who  was  born  Feb.  17,  1753.  They 
settled  on  the  estate  next  north  of  Thaddeus  Chapin,  in  Wor- 
cester, and  had  eleven  children  :  1st,  Sally,  born  Dec.  2, 1779, 
married  Asa  Ward,  brother  of  the  late  Artemas  Ward,  register 
of  deeds  ;  2d,  Eunice,  born  Feb.  16,  1782,  married  Samuel 
Gates,  brotlier  of  John  Gates  ;  3d,  Peter,  born  March  9,  1784, 
married  Sally  Harrington,  sister  of  Samuel  Harrington  ;  4th, 
Nancy,  born  May  22,  1786,  married  Samuel  Harrington,  town 
sexton  and  undertaker  ;  5th,  Benjamin,  born  May  9, 1788,  mar- 
ried Lydia  Rice,  daughter  of  Edward  Rice,  and  great-great- 
granddaughter  of  the  original  Gershom  Rice,  (see  page  42)  ; 
6th,  Lois,  born  June  2,  1790,  never  married  ;  Chloc,  born 
May  25,  1792,  married  Bailey  Clements  ;  7th,  Luther,  born 
Aug.  11,  1794,  died  July  9,  1872,  (machinist  of  firm  of 
White  &  Boyden,)  married  Julia  Clark  ;  8th,  Nathan,  born 
Jan.  10,  1797,  married  Betsey  Reed  ;  9th,  Bezalecl,  born  July 
5,  1788,  married  Nancy  Whitney,  and  went  west;  10th, 
Leonard,  born  March  29.  1805,  married  Emily  Gates,  and 
now  resides  in  Clinton. 


340  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Capt.  Peter  and  Zilpah  (Chapin)  Slater  had  :  Peter,  Jr.,  fa 
tlier  of  Luther  Slater,  now  of  Boston  ;  Samuel  ;  Andrew  ;  and 
Sarah,  married  a  Howe,  and  afterwards  a  Parmenter.  It  was 
through  the  efforts  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Parmenter,  that  the 
monument  to  tlie  memory  of  Capt.  Slater,  one  of  the  "  Boston 
Tea  Party"  of  Dec.  1(3,  1778,  was  erected  in  Hope  Cemetery, 
July  4,  1870,  with  appropriate  exercises,  (see  page  211.) 

The  Lovell  Family. 

Alexander  Lovell,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Medfield  in 
1649,  who  married  Lydia  Albee,  had  six  children,  of  whom  the 
fourth,  Alexander,  Jr.,  born  March  2,  1671,  married  Elizabeth. 
Of  their  seven  children,  the  sixth,  Jonathan  Lovell,  born  Sept. 
16,  1714,  married  Aug.  24,  1738,  Mary  Cheney  of  Medfield, 
and  came  to  Worcester  about  1739,  and  settled  on  Mount 
Carmel,  now  called  Maiden  Hill,*  in  that  portion  of  Worcester, 
then  called  Worcester  North  Part  or  Precinct,  (afterwards 
Holden.)  He  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  tlie  General  Court 
in  1740  for  the  setting  off  of  this  North  Part  of  Worcester 
as  a  separate  town,  which  was  granted  Jan.  9,  1741,  and  he 
was  chosen  constable  at  the  first  Holden  town  meeting,  May  4, 
following,  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1747,  1752, 
1759  and  1760,  assessor  in  1747  and  1752,  and  town  treasurer 
in  1759.  His  wife  Mary  died  in  1755,  and  he  afterwards  married 
Rachel,  widow  of  James  How  of  Worcester.  He  had  eleven 
children  :  Mary,  Kesia,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  Eunice  and  Olive,  born 
between  1740  and  1750  ;  Dea.  Asa,  born  Sept.  10,  1751,  died 
in  1814,  married  Betty  Raymond,  and  resided  on  North  Mai- 
den Hill  in  West  Boylston  ;  Amos,  born  July  13,  1753,  died  in 
1833,  married  Mary  Ball  of  Concord,  and  resided  on  the  origin- 
al homestead  on  Maiden  Hill,  adjohiing  the  estate  of  his  brother 
Dea.  Asa;  Lydia,  boru  March  30,1757;  Nathan,  born  April 
22, 1761 ;  Samuel,  born  Oct.  1,  1762. 

Jonathan  Lovell,  Jr.,  born  Dec.  15,  1743,  by  his  w4fe  Mary, 
had  eight  children  :  Jonathan,  3d,  born  Oct.  1,  1769,  settled  in 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  and  a  son  of  his,  Jonathan,  4th,  now  lives 


*  Maiden  Hill  was  set  off  to  West  Boylston,  on  the  incorporation  of  the  lat- 
ter town  in  1808. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  341 

ill  Oaklmm  ;  Betsey,  Mary,  Eunice  and  Olive,  born  between 
1772  and  1782  ;  Joseph,  born  July  29, 1784,  died  1860,  captain, 
hotel-keeper,  <fec.  ;  David,  born  Nov.  20,  1786,  married  Susan 
Bigelow  ;  Cyrus,  born  Nov.  2,  1790,  residing  upon  the  estate 
of  his  father  and  grandfather,  is  now  in  his  87th  year,  the  only 
survivor  of  four  brothers  and  -four  sisters,  the  average  of  wdiose 
united  ages  was  over  four  score. 

In  1757,  the  first  Jonathan  Lovell  purchased  of  the  heirs  of 
James  How  of  Worcester  the  farm  in  the  north  easterly  part  of 
Worcester,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Cyrus  Lovell,  it  having 
been  owned  and  occupied  by  father,  son  and  grandson  for  120 
years. 

Capt.  Joseph  Lovell  married  Persis  Bigelow,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Amariah  Bigelow,  and  granddaughter  of  Maj.  Ezra  Beaman  of 
West  Boylston,  and  had  six  children  :  Mary,  died  young ; 
John  T.,  married  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Knight  ;  Ezra  B., 
married  Hannah  Stone  of  Rutland  ;  George,  married  a 
daughter  of  Col.  Artemas  Ward  of  Worcester;  Joseph, 
married  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Banister  ;  Amariah  B.,  married 
Susan  M.,  daughter  of  Russell  Garfield  of  Shrewsbury.  Albert 
A.  Lovell  is  son  of  Joseph  Lovell,  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  Luther  H. 
Bigelow  is  daughter  of  Amariah  B.  Lovell.  Capt.  Joseph 
Lovell,  senior,  who  then  kept  the  hotel  at  Lincoln  Square,  was 
one  of  the  military  escort  to  Lafayette  when  he  came  into  town 
in  1824,  and  furnished  the  horses  with  which  the  distinguished 
Frenchman  rode  into  the  village,  on  that  occasion,  with  Gov. 
Lincoln. 

Cyrus  Lovell  married  a  daughter  of  John  Temple  of  West 
Boylston,  and  had:  John  Dana,  married  Eleanor  Winch  of 
Holden  ;  Edwin  H.,  married  Lewcllyn  Hartwell  of  Princeton  ; 
Abby  M.,  Cyrus  A.,  and  George  A.  Lovell,  the  two  latter  re- 
siding on  the  old  homestead  of  their  father  and  grandfather. 

The  Green  Family. 

Capt.  Samuel  Green,  born  in  Maiden,  Oct.  5,  1670,  was   one 

of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Leicester,  in  1717,  moderator 

of  the  first  toAvn  meetings  held  there,  and  first  chairman  of  the 

board  of  selectmen,  which  and  other  prominent  offices  he  held 


342  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

for  many  years.  He  settled  iii  Greenville,  where  he  built  tlie 
first  dam  and  mill  in  the  town,  which  was  for  thirty-three 
years  from  1799  to  1832  owned  and  occupied  by  Caleb  Wall 
from  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  who  erected  scythe  works  on  the  pre- 
mises, the  original  saw  and  grist  mill  privilege  having  been  lor 
twenty  years  past  owned  and  occupied  by  Asa  W.  Clark.  Capt. 
Green  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  brave  and  intrepid 
Lieut.  Phinehas  Uphamof  Worcester,  (see  page  102,)  and  their 
only  son  was  Rev.  Thomas  Green,  M.  D.,  founder  of  the  Bapt- 
ist Church  in  Greenville,  organized  in  1736,  the  oldest  Baptist 
Church  m  Worcester  county.  The  residences  of  both  father 
and  son  are  still  standing  on  their  elevated  sides  near  the  meet- 
ing-house. This  Dr.  Thomas  Green  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  the  fifth  son,  the  first  Dr.  John  Green  of  Worcester, 
was  born  in  Leicester,  Aug.  14,  1736,  came  to  Worcester  about 
1757,  and  settled  on  the  estate  on  Green  Hill,  where  his  great- 
grandchildren still  reside.  He  married  for  his  first  wife,  Mary 
Osgood,  who  died  in  1761,  and  for  his  second  wife,  Mary  Rug- 
gles,  daughter  of  Gen.  Timothy  Ruggles  of  Hardwick.  Of  his 
twelve  children,  ten  were  by  his  last  wife,  the  oldest  one  of 
these  ten  being  tlie  second  Dr.  John  Green,  who  was  born  on 
Green  Hill,  March  18, 1763, and  married  Nancy  Barber,  daugh- 
ter of  James  l^arber,  and  granddaughter  of  the  original  Robert 
Barber,  (Scotch  Presbyterian  of  1718,  see  page  128,)  who  set- 
tled upon  the  Barber  estate  near  Barber's  Crossing  in  North- 
ville. 

Dr.  John  and  Nancy  (Barber)  Green  had  eleven  children,  of 
whom  the  oldest,  the  late  Dr.  John  Green,  was  born  April  19, 
1784,  on  the  estate  on  Main  street  to  the  possession  of  which 
he  succeeded  from  his  father.  The  third  and  late  Dr.  John 
Green  married  Dolly  Curtis,  daughter  of  David  and  Susanna 
(Stone)  Curtis,  (see  page  36,)  but  had  no  children.  The  oth- 
er children  of  the  second  Dr.  John  and  Nancy  (Barber)  Green 
were  :  Eunice,  born  April  29,  1786,  married  Leonard  Bur- 
bank,  (brother  of  Elijah  Burbank,)  paper  manufacturer,  par- 
ents of  James  L.  and  George  G.  Burbank  of  Worcester  ;  Mary, 
born  March  14,  1788,  died  Sept.  16,  1817  ;  Nancy,  born  Aug. 
28, 1790,  married  Dr.   Benjamin   F.   Hey  wood   of  Worcester, 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  343 

tliey  being  parents  of  Benjamin,  Caroline  and  Dr.  Frederick 
Heywood  ;  Samuel  B.,  born  April  11, 1797,  died  July  20, 1822  ; 
Frederick  William,  born  Jan.  19,  1800,  married  Sarah  Briggs 
of  Columbia,  S.  C,  and  now  resides  there  having  had  thirteen 
children  ;  James,  born  Dec.  23,  1802,  married  Elizabeth  Swett 
of  Dedham,  they  being  parents  of  Dr.  John  Green,  opthalmo- 
logic  surgeon  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  of  Samuel  Swett  Green,  libra- 
rian of  the  Worcester  Free  Public  Library,  and  of  James  Green, 
attorney  at  law,  in  Worcester  ;  Meleitah  Bourne,  born  July  26, 
1806,  married  Mary  Stone  Ward,  (daughter  of  the  late  Arte- 
mas  Ward,  register  of  deeds,)  parents  of  Meletiah  B.  Green,  Jr.; 
Elizabeth  R.,  born  Sept.  26,  1808,  married  Dr.  Benjamin  F. 
Heywood  for  his  second  wife,  they  being  parents  of  John  G. 
Heywood,  and  of  Elizabeth,  who  married  Harry  Stone  of  East 
Greenwich,  R.  I.,  and  of  Nancy  G.,  wife  of  Dr.  Griswold 
of  Sharon,  Penn.  Tlie  first  one  of  the  distinguished  trio  of  suc- 
cessive physicians  of  the  same  name,  in  Worcester,  Dr.  John 
Green,  died  Oct.  29, 1799,  aged  63,  at  the  old  homestead  on 
Green  Hill;  the  second  died  Aug.  11,  1808,  aged  45,  at  the 
brick  Green  mansion  on  Main  street ;  and  the  late  Dr.  John 
Green  died  Oct.  17,  1865,  on  tlie  same  spot,  where  he  was 
born,  aged    81.     The  first  two  left  many  descendants. 

William  Elijah  Green,  born  Jan.  31,  1777,  and  died  July  27, 
1865,  aged  88,  was  son  of  the  first  Dr.  John  Green,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  possession  of  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  on 
Green  Hill,  comprising  nearly  2U0  acres  of  land.  He  studied 
law  with  Judge  Edward  Bangs,  and  was  in  legal  practice  for 
many  years  with  him  and  others.  Of  his  eleven  children,  the 
oldest,  (by  his  first  wife,  Abigail  Nelson  of  Milford,)  was  Wil- 
liam Nelson  Green,  judge  of  tlie  Worcester  Police  Court  from 
1848  to  1868,  who  was  born  Feb.  23,  1804,  and  died  Dec.  6, 
1870.  By  his  second  wife,  Lucy,  daughter  of  Dea.  Joseph 
Merriam  of  Grafton,  he  had  Lucy  M.,  born  Nov.  12,  1810,  for 
many  years  teacher  in  New  York  City.  By  his  third  wife,  Lydia 
Plympton,  he  had  Mary  Ruggles,  born  June  29,  1814,  formerly 
teacher  in  New  York  City  with  her  sister,  afterwards  married 
Charles  Keneudson,  resides  in  Norwalk,  Ct.  ;  Julia  Elizabeth, 
born  Feb.  2,1816,  many  years  private  school  teacher  in  Worces- 


344  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

ter,  resides  on  Green  Hill  ;  John  Plympton,  born  Jan.  19,1819, 
physician,  practised  in  New  York  City,  went  to  China,  and  is 
now  in  Copiapo,  Chili,  South  America;  Hon.  Andrew  Haswell 
Green,  born  Oct.  6,  1820,  was  attorney  at  law  in  New  York 
City,  in  company  with  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  president  of  the  New 
York  City  board  of  Education,  commissioner  of  the  Central 
Park  many  years,  and  afterwards  comptroller  of  the  city,  in 
practice  in  New  York  now,  and  residing  alternately  there  and 
at  Green  Hill,  Worcester  ;  Dr.  Samuel  Fiske  Green,  born  Oct. 
10,  1822,  physician,  practised  a  short  time  in  Worcester,  was 
then  missior.ary  physician  of  the  American  board  in  Ceylon, 
and  is  now  residing  on  the  old  homestead.  Green  Hill,  his  wife 
being  Margaret,  daughter  of  Giles  Williams,  by  whom  he  has 
several  children  ;  Lydia  Plympton,  was  born  March  18,  1824, 
deceased  several  years  since  ;  Oliver  Bourne,  born  Jan.  1, 
1826,  civil  engineer,  married  in  1855,  Louisa  Pomeroy  of  Stan- 
stead,  Canada  cast ;  Martin,  born  April  24, 1828,  civil  engineer, 
married  Mrs.  Davison,  resides  on  Green  Hill,  and  has  several 
children. 

Judge  Wm.  Nelson  Green,  who  married  in  1839,  Sarah  Mun- 
roe  (Ball)  Staples,  had  a  son,  Wm.  Nelson  Green,  Jr.,  born 
Jan.  10,  1843,  who  was  Lieut.  Col.  of  the  173d  New  York  regi- 
ment, in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  died  in  the  service.  He 
had  another  son,  Timothy  Ruggles  Green,  born  June  22, 1844. 

Capt.  Samuel  Green's  danghter  Lydia  man'icd  Abiathar  Vin- 
ton, from  Maiden,  they  being  parents  of  Abiathar  Vinton,  Jr., 
born  in  1732,  who  settled  in  South  Hadley,  where  his  son,  Hon. 
Samuel  Finlay  Vinton,  for  twenty-two  years  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Ohio,  was  born  in  1792. 

After  William  Elijah  Green's  fourth  marriage  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Universalist  Society  in  Worcester,  and  united 
himself  with  the  church  of  this  society,  of  which  his  wife  was  a 
communicant.  Mr.  Green  was  at  one  time  captain  of  the  Wor- 
cester Light  Infantry,  being  the  third  person  \^ho  had  filled  that 
office,  the  first  being  Levi  Thaxter,  the  second  Enoch  Flagg. 
The  military  organization  is  still  in  being. 

Originally  of  Baptist  stock,  he  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  first  Baptist  Society. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  345 

The  Lincoln   Family. 

Lsvi  Lincoln,  senior,  born  May  5,  1749,  was  tliird  son  of 
Enoch  Lincoln  of  Hingliam.  He  was  first  apprenticed  to  an 
ironsmitli,  but  soon  after  entered  Harvard  University,  where  he 
graduated  in  1772.  After  completing  his  law  studies  with 
Joseph  Hawley  of  Northampton,  he  came  to  Worcester  at  the 
re-opening  of  the  courts  in  December,  1775,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed clerk,  resigning  after  one  year's  service  in  that  capacity 
to  take  the  position  of  Judge  of  Probate,  which  he  held  until 
1781,  at  the  same  time  declining  an  election  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  on  account  of  the  interference  of  official  duties  with 
his  extensive  professional  business.  Afterwards,  besides  filling 
other  official  positions,  he  was  representative  in  the  Seventh 
Congress,  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  from  1801  to 
1805,  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  subsequently  acting  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth  in  1808.  He  was  married,  Nov.  25, 
1781,  to  Martha,  daughter  of  Daniel  Waldo,  senior,  and  of 
their  children,  Levi,  Jr.,  judge-,  governor,  representative  in 
Congress,  president  of  the  Massachusetts  Senate,  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  mayor  of  Worcester,  &c.,  was  born 
Oct.  25,  1782,  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1802,  and 
married  in  1807,  Penelope  Winslow,  daughter  of  Wm.  and 
Mary  Sever,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  last  Judge  John  Chan- 
dler ;  Rebecca,  married  Hon.  Rejoice  Newton,  their  children 
being  Capt.  Levi  Lincoln  Newton  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Wetherell  ; 
Daniel  Waldo  Lincoln,  born  March  2,  1784,  was  county  attor- 
ney of  Cumberland,  Me.,  and  died  in  Portland,  April  17, 1815  ; 
Martha,  born  Oct.  19, 1785,  married  Hon.  Leonard  M.  Parker  of 
Shirley,  they  being  parents  of  Mrs.  Francis  H.  Kinnicutt  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Mason  of  Worcester ;  John  Waldo  Lincoln,  born 
June  24,  1787,. died  Oct.  2,  1852,  was  senator,  county  commis- 
sioner, sheriff,  etc.  ;  Enoch  Lincoln,  born  Dec.  28,  1788,  died 
in  Augusta,  Me.,  Oct.  11,  1829,  was  representative  in  Congress 
from  Maine  for  seven  years  from  1819  to  1826,  and  governor 
of  tliat  State  three  years  to  1829  ;  William  Lincoln,  the  histor- 
ian, born  Sept.  26,  1802,  died  Oct.  5,  1843. 

Lo-vi  and  Martha  (Sever)  Lincoln  had  seven  children  :  First, 
Levi,  died  Sept.  1,  1845,  aged  35.  Second,  Wm.  Sever  Lincoln, 
44 


346  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

bom  Nov.  22,  1811  ;  married  Oct.  22,  1835,  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  George  A.  and  Louisa  C.  Trumbull  ;  has  had  four  chil- 
dren ;  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1830  ;  practiced  law 
in  Millbury,  Mass.,  and  in  Alton,  111.,  where  he  was  city  attor- 
ney; then  removed  to  Worcester,  and  occupied  for  a  time  the 
"  mill  farm"  that  was  his  great-grandfatlier's,  (Judge  John 
Chandler's,  see  page  72  at  Quinsigamond  Village)  ;  was  Lieut. 
Colonel  and  afterwards  Colonel  of  the  34th  Massachusetts 
Regiment  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  was  wounded,  taken  pri- 
soner and  escaped,  and  afterwards  in  the  service,  and  breveted 
Brigadier  General  for  meritorious  service  ;  has  been  city  mar- 
shal, alderman,  and  occupied  other  positions  of  trust.  Third, 
Daniel  Waldo  Lincoln,  born  Jan.  16,  1813  ;  married  Frances 
Fish,  daughter  of  Francis  T.  Merrick,  and  has  had  four  chil- 
dren;  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1832;  has  given 
great  attention  to  horticultural  pursuits  ;  was  representative  in 
the  Legislature  in  1846,  mayor  of  Worcester  in  1863  and  1864, 
has  been  vice-president  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  railroad  since 
the  consolidation  in  1867,  and  filled  other  prominent  offices. 
Fourth,  Penelope,  married  Dr.  C.  T.  Canfield  of  New  Jersey, 
and  has  a  daughter  Penelope.  Fifth,  Capt.  George  Lincoln, 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23,  1847,  aged  30, 
while  acting  as  adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  General  Wool ; 
married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Silvius  and  Nancy  (M.  DeVillers) 
Hoard,  afterwards  wife  of  Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury.  Sixth, 
Anne  Warren  Lincoln,  died  July  24,  1846,  aged  27.  Seventh, 
Edward  Winslow  Lincoln,  born  December,  1820  ;  graduated 
at  Harvard  University  in  1839  ;  has  been  twice  married,  the 
last  time  to  Kate  Von  Weiver  Marston  of  Bristol,  R.  L,  daugli- 
ter  of  Lieut.  Col.  Ward  Marston  of  the  United  States  marine 
service,  and  has  had  eight  children  ;  was  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  National  jEgis  in  1847  and  1848,  postmaster  from  1849 
to  1854,  and  has  been  many  years  Commissioner  of  Public 
Grounds  and  Secretary  of  the  Worcester  County  Horticultural 
Society. 

Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  (see  page  47,)  who  came  here  not 
long  after  his  brother,  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  married,  January 
7, 1787,  Nancy,  daughter  of  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow.  (See  p.  46.) 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  347 

The  Allen  Family. 
James  Allen,  merchant,  of  Boston,  (grandfather  of  Rev. 
George  Allen  of  Worcester,)  married  Mary,  sister  of  Samuel 
Adams,  and  had  five  sons,  James,  William,  Robert,  Joseph  and 
Samuel,  (the  two  latter  afterwards  of  Worcester,)  all  of  whom 
were  members  of  the  Latin  Grammar  School  of  Boston  under 
Master  John  Lovell,  the  most  celebrated  school-teacher  of  his 
time,  and  master  of  that  school  for  over  fifty  years.  These 
brothers  had  a  younger  sister  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Joseph  Avery,  minister  of  the  old  Congregational  Church 
in  Holden  from  1774  to  his  death  in  1824.  Of  these  five  broth- 
ers, one  of  whom  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  the  old- 
est, James,  Jr.,  was  in  the  class  of  1754  with  Gov.  John  Han- 
cock ;  and  Joseph  and  Samuel  were  afterwards  of  Worcester, 
the  former  becoming  clerk  of  the  courts,  member  of  Congress, 
etc.,  and  the  latter  county  treasurer. 

Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  born  Sept.  2,  1749,  removed  from  Boston 
to  Leicester,  Nov.  17,  1771,  after  having  served  a  regular  mer- 
cantile apprenticeship  in  Mr.  Bass'  store,  and  subsequently  kept 
a  store  on  Leicester  hill,  near  the  site  of  the  present  Academy. 
Here  he  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Judge  Thomas  Steele,  who 
died  May  10,  1775.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Dorothy 
Kingsbury,  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Dorothy  Kingsbury  of  East 
Hartford,  Conn.  While  in  Leicester,  with  Seth  Washburn, 
the  Henshaws,  Dennys,  etc.,  he  was  active  in  resisting  the 
agressive  measures  of  the  British  government.  On  the  re- 
organization of  the  government  under  the  provincial  author- 
ities in  1776,  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  courts  for  this 
county,  and  removed  to  Worcester,  filling  that  position  with 
remarkable  fidelity  for  thirty-three  years  to  1810,  when  he  was 
chosen  representative  in  Congress,  to  succeed  Hon.  Jabez 
Upham  of  Brookfield,  deceased.  He  was  executive  councillor 
from  1815  to  1818,  and  twice  presidential  elector.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  State 
Constitution  of  1780,  with  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  senior,  and  Dea. 
David  Bigelow;  the  first  treasurer  of  Leicester  Academy, 
from  1784  to  1819,  preceding  Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow ;  and 
the  first  president  of  the  Worcester  County  Bible   Society  ;  be- 


348  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

sides  filling  many  other  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  died 
Sept.  1,  1827,  aged  78.  He  early  received  the  distinguished 
confidence  of  his  uncle,  Samuel  Adams,  the  revolutionary 
patriot. 

Hon.  Joseph  Allen  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters  be- 
sides several  who  died  in  infancy,  of  whom  the  two  oldest, 
Joseph  and  Thomas,  by  his  first  wife,  were  born  in  Leices- 
ter, and  the  others,  by  his  last  wife,  in  Worcester.  The 
oldest,  Joseph,  Jr.,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1792,  began  prac- 
tice as  a  lawyer  in  Worcester,  afterwards  in  Warren  and  in 
Charlestown,  N.  H.,  and  died  in  the  latter  place  in  1806.  Maj. 
Samuel  Allen,  born  Nov.  22,  1789,  and  died  Feb.  18,  1863, 
aged  73,  married  Maria  A.,  sister  of  Judge  Pliny  Merrick, 
their  daughter  Frances  M.,  is  wife  of  Samuel  F.  Haven,  Esq. 
Ucv.  George  Allen,  born  Feb.  1,  1792,  married  Eliza  (xiUen) 
Pitkin  of  Enfield,  Connecticut,  and  their  son  George,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Denny,  daughter  of  late  Rev.  John  Miles  of 
Grafton.  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  was  pastor  in  Shrewsbury  from  1823 
to  1839.  Hon.  Clm-les^^llen,  chief  justice,  member  of  Con- 
gress, senator",  etc.,  born  Aug.  9,  1797,  married  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Eleazer  James,  Esq.,  of  Barre,  their  daughter  Josephine, 
being  wife  of  Henry  C.  Rice,  Esq.  Joseph  and  Dorothy  Allen's 
daughter  Ann  married  Robert  M.  Peck.  Joseph  Allen  and 
his  brother  Samuel,  their  last  wives,  and  four  of  Joseph's 
children  were  buried  in  the  old  Mechanic  street  Cemetery. 

This  family  is  a  connection,  genealogically,  with  that  of  Rev. 
Benjamin  Allen,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  here,  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  town,  whose  son  Joseph,  born  Feb.  14,  1720, 
was  the  first  person  from  Worcester  on  the  Harvard  College  re- 
cord of  students.  Capt.  Samuel  Adams,  (father  of  the  cele- 
brated patriot  of  the  revolution,  and  grandfather  of  Hon. 
Joseph  Allen,)  was  a  cousin  of  the  father  of  President  John 
Adams. 

When  Joseph  Allen  came  here  in  1776,  he  resided  first  in  the 
house  then  just  vacated  by  Attorney  General  James  Putnam, 
corner  of  Main  and  Park  streets.  About  1780,  he  erected  the 
dwelling  on  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  Thomas  streets, 
which  he  sold  to  David  Curtis  in  1799,  and  then  removed  to 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Pearl  streets,  (see  page  260.) 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  349 

Rev.  George  Allen,  now  in  his  86tli  year,  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1813,  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Yates 
in  Union  College,  and  was  ordained  minister  in  Shrewsbury, 
Nov.  19,  1823,  a  colleague  with  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Sumner  until 
his  death,  and  then  he  became  sole  pastor,  remaining  so  until 
1839,  after  which  he  officiated  for  nearly  twenty  years  as  chap- 
lain at  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital.  It  was  a  spirit  allied  to  that 
of  his  distinguished  kinsman,  Samuel  Adams,  which  prompted 
Rev.  Mr.  Allen  to  offer  the  celebrated  resolution,  quoted  on  page 
287,  which  subsequently  became  the  corner  stone  of  political 
faith  not  merely  of  a  party,  through  its  conventions  and  presses, 
which  endorsed  that  rallying  cry  "  for  free  soil  and  free  men  * 
for  free  speech  and  a  free  press,  for  a  free  land  and  a  free 
world,"  but  of  the  whole  country,  which  established  these  noble 
principles. 

Hon.  Charles  Allen,  after  completing  his  law  studies  with 
Hon.  Samuel  M.  Burnside,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Worces- 
ter, in  August,  1818,  at  the  age  of  21,  and  practiced  in  New 
Braintree  till  1824,  when  he  removed  to  Worcester,  and  was  in 
partnership  with  Hon.  John  Davis  till  1831.  He  was  chairman 
of  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1832  ;  representative  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  1830,  1833,  1835,  and  1840  ;  senator  in  1836  and 
1837  ;  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  from  1842  to  1844  ; 
declined  an  appointment  to  the  Supreme  Bench  ;  was  president- 
ial elector  in  1844  ;  representative  in  Congress  from  1849  to 
1853  ;  and  chief  justice  of  the  Superior  Court   from  1858  un- 

*  When  the  reference  to  this  matter,  on  pa.^e  287,  was  penned,  the  writer 
was  not  aware  that  the  paternity  of  this  noble  resolution  had  ever  been  claim- 
ed for  any  othei  party.  He  would  as  soon  have  expected  some  modern  D.  D. 
to  lay  claim  to  the  authorship  of  the  "  Sermon  on  the  Mount."  The  writer  of 
this  book  was  sitting  within  a  few  feet  of  Mr.  Allen  when  the  latter  arose  near 
the  close  of  that  meeting,  and  offered  his  resolution,  in  the  same  words  here 
printed,  the  words  coming  into  his  mind  as  he  was  hurrying  across  the  Com- 
mon on  the  way  to  the  hall,  which  he  entered  just  before  the  close  of  the  speak- 
ing, having  been  detained  by  his  duties  at  the  hospital  after  nine  o'clhck.  Af- 
ter the  regular  resolutions  of  the  meeting  had  been  reported  and  adopted,  Rev. 
Mr.  Allen  offered  his,  from  memory,  and  it  was  received  with  so  much  favor 
that  he  was  requested  to  commit  it  to  writing,  which  he  did  in  exactly  the 
same  words,  after  which  it  was  adopted  with  the  most  unbounded  enthusiasm, 
and  subsequently  adopted  by  various  meetings  and  conventions  during  that 
campaign,  including  the  State  Convention  held  the  following  week  in  the  same 
hall;  and  the  main  sentiment  of  it  was  incorporated  in  the  platform  of  the  Na- 
tional Free  Soil  Convention  held  the  following  month  of  August  at  Buffalo, 
where  Martin  Van  Buren  and  Charles  Francis  Adams  were  made  the  standaid 
bearers  of  these  "  free  soil"  principles,  then  specially  endorsed  by  them,  and 
since  become  incorporated  in  the  national  government. 


350  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

til  18G8.  In  1842,  Mr.  Allen  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
commission  with  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence  and  Hon.  John  Mills, 
in  behalf  of  Massachusetts  in  relation  to  the  contemplated 
treaty  of  Washington  respecting  the  North  Eastern  boundary 
of  the  United  States,  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Co.n- 
vention  of  1853,  and  of  the  National  Peace  Congress  at  Wash- 
ington in  the  beginning  of  1816.  Judge  Allen  was  the  acknowl- 
edged head  of  the  bar  in  this  section  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Judge  Allen  was  a  delegate  to  the  Whig  National  Convention 
at  Philadelphia  in  1848,  which  nominated  Gen.  Taylor  for  the 
presidency,  and  as  a  member  of  that  body  exhibited  the  spirit 
of  his  illustrious  relative,  Samuel  Adams  of  revolutionary  fame, 
in  daring  to  stand  up,  almost  solitary  and  alone,  in  defence  of 
his  convictions,  against  the  most  formidable  odds. 

The  closing  words  of  Judge  Allen's  speech,  made  in  that 
body  after  the  nomination  of  Gen.  Taylor,  against  which  he 
protested,  and  pronounced  "  The  Whig  party  of  the  country 
here  and  this  day  dissolved,''  for  its  ''  surrender  to  the  slave 
power,"  were  as  follows,  in  which  he  defeated  the  contemplated 
nomination  of  a  distinguished  statesman  of  Massachusetts  for 
the  vice-presidency,  (Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,)  as  the  condition 
of  her  giving  her  vote  to  Gen  Taylor  : 

"  You  have  put  one  ounco  too  much  upon  the  strong  l)aek  of  northern  en- 
durance. You  have  even  presumed  that  the  state  which  led  on  the  first  re- 
volution for  liberty,  will  now  desert  that  cause  for  the  miserable  boon  of  the 
vice-presidency.     Sir,  Massachusetts  spurns  the  bribed'' 

Millard  Fillmore  of  New  York  was  then  nominated  for  the 
vice-presidency  by  the  convention,  he  receiving  115  votes  to 
109  for  Mr.  Lawrence. 

Samuel  Allen,  senior,  born  at  Boston  in  1757,  came  to  Worces- 
ter in  1776.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  John 
Honeywood  of  Leicester,  (an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  sur- 
geon in  the  revolutionary  army,)  for  his  first  wife,  and  a 
daughter  of  Gen.  Timothy  Newell  of  Sturbridge  for  his  second 
wife.  They  left  no  children.  Mr.  Allen  was  the  successor  of 
Dea.  Nathan  Perry  and  the  predecessor  of  Anthony  Chase  as 
county  treasurer,  from   1781  to   his   decease,  Dec.    26,  1830, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  351 

The  Mower  Family. 

Samuel,  Thomas  and  Joanna  Mower,  brothers  and  sister, 
came  from  the  west  of  England,  probably  Devonshire,  about 
1708  or  1710,  and  settled  in  Maiden. 

Samuel  Mower,  who  married  Elizabeth  Sprague,  Jan.  4, 1716, 
and  died  in  Worcester  in  1760,  aged  70,  had  seven  children, 
all  born  in  Worcester  except  the  first :  1,  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried first  a  Lynde,  from  Maiden,  and  married,  second,  Jed- 
ediah  Tucker  of  Shrewsbury  for  his  second  wife  ;  2,  Abigail, 
married  Jabez  Sargent ;  3,  Capt.  Samuel,  Jr.,  born  October, 
1720,  and  married  Comfort  Larned  of  Oxford,  daughter  of 
the  celebrated  Gen.  Ebenezer  Larned  of  revolutionary  fame ; 
4,  Ephraim,  born  in  1723,  married  first  Mary  B.  Wheeler  of 
Worcester,  and  afterwards  a  Garfield  ;  5,  John,  born  in  1724, 
married  Hannah  Moore  of  Worcester  ;  6,  Lydia,  born  in  1726, 
married  Henry  Ward,  son  of  Maj.  Daniel  Ward,  (see  page  31,) 
and  afterwards  married  in  1779  James  Trowbridge  of  Worces- 
ter for  his  second  wife  ;  7,  Jonathan,  born  in  1730,  married 
Ehzabeth  Bemis  of  Spencer. 

Capt.  Samuel  and  Comfort  (Larned)  Mower  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  1,  Martha,  married  Samuel  Watson  of  Brookfield  ;  2, 
Joanna,  married  Wm.  Boyden  of  Auburn  ;  3,  Lucy,  married 
Israel  Barret  of  Paxton  ;  4,  Samuel,  married  Nancy  Ann  Leach 
of  Worcester  ;  5,  Henry,  married  Hannah  Hale  of  Putney, 
Vt.  ;  6,  Aaron,  of  whose  marriage  and  death  there  is  no  record  ; 
7,  Ebenezer,  born  October  10,  1760,  died  February  14,  1761, 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  Curtis,  the 
youngest  of  their  eleven  children,  Eliza,  being  wife  of  Walter 
R.  Bigelow  of  Worcester ;  and  another  daughter  is  widow  of 
Thomas  Nichols. 

The  first  Ephraim  Mower,  who  died  in  Leicester  in  1790, 
aged  60,  had  the  following  children  born  in  Worcester  :  1,  Timo- 
thy, born  in  1745,  removed  to  New  York  ;  2,  Maj.  Ephraim,  hotel 
keeper,  &c.,  born  in  1748,  died  Dec.  20, 1810,  married  Thank- 
ful Hersey  of  Leicester  ;  3,  Thomas,  born  in  1750,  married  An- 
na Brown,  parents  of  the  late  Capt.  Epliraim  Mower  of  Wor- 
cester. 


352  Reminiscences  of  Wo7^ceste7\ 

Thomas  Mower,  who  was  ten  years  old  when  he  moved  from 
Worcester  to  Leicester  with  his  father,  removed  back  to  Wor 
cester  in  1792,  residing  probably  on  or  near  the  old  Mower 
homestead  west  of  Tatnuck  near  the  Leicester  line.  He  had  : 
1,  James  B.,  born  in  1773,  died  in  New  York  in  1832  ;  2,  Capt. 
Ephraim,  born  June  6,  1778,  died  Jan.  19,  1865,  married  first, 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Lovell,  and  married  second, 
Caroline  Cutler,  daughter  of  Gen.  John  Cutler  of  Brookficld, 
and  had  two  children,  Ephraim,  Jr.,  and  Caroline  C.  ;  3,  Sarah 
born  in  1780,  died  in  1855,  married  John  Thayer;  4,  Huldah, 
born  1784,  died  in  1826  ;  5,  Thomas  G.,  born  in  1790,  died  in 
New  York,  in  1853,  was  surgeon  in  the  United  States  Army, 
and  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Samuel  and  Nancy  Ann  (Leach)  Mower  had  eleven  children  : 
1,  Sarah,  born  in  1771,  and  died  in  1801,  married  Maj.  Charles 
Chandler,  son  of  Judge  John  Chandler,  (see  page  76);  2,  John  ; 
3,  Samuel ;  4,  Levi  ;  5,  Nahum,  printer,  publisher  of  the  "  In- 
dependent Gazetteer,"  &c.,  (see  page  321);  6,  Nancy;  7,  Mary  ; 
8,  Nathaniel,  hatter,  on  the  location,  afterwards  occupied  by 
Daniel  Waldo's  "  Granite  Row"  block  of  stores,  was  father  of 
Gen.  Joseph  A.  Mower,  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  command- 
ing at  one  time  near  New  Orleans  ;  9,  Ebenezer  ;  10,  Lyman, 
died  at  Woodstock,  Yt.,  in  1876  ;  11,  Benjamin  F. 

The  Upham  Family. 

Isaac  Upham,  (son  of  Phinehas  Upham,  3d,  who  married 
Tamsin  Hill,  noticed  on  page  102  as  parents  of  Dr.  Jabez  Up- 
ham ot  Brookfield,)  was  father  of  Nathan  Upham,  born  in 
Brookfield,  July  13,  1750,  who  married  Eleanor  Gilbert  of  New 
Braintree,  and  died  in  1828.  This  Nathan  and  Eleanor  (Gil- 
bert) Upham  were  parents  of  Pliny  Upham,  born  in  Brookfield, 
April  1,  1771,  and  died  in  1849,  who  married  Catherine  Hast- 
ings, Dec.  30,  1802,  they  being  parents  of  Dea.  Joel  W.  Upham 
of  Worcester,  who  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Oct.  24,  1803.  The 
latter  married  for  his  first  wife,  May  4,  1831,  Seraphine  Howe, 
daughter  of  Dennis  Howe  of  Shrewsbury,  who  died  Oct.  29, 
1839,  aged  35,  and  he   married,  second,  Nov.    3,  1840,  Lydia 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  3-53 

Wheeler  of  Holden.  Their  children  are  :  Geo.  D.  Upham,  bom 
July  22,  1833,  master  mariner,  Boston  ;  Henry  P.  Upham,  born 
Jan.  2(3,  1837,  banker,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  ;  and  Emma  E.  Up- 
ham, born  March  27,  1847. 

The    Boyden   Family. 

There  was  a  John  Boyden,  lieutenant  in  the  French  war, 
who  lived  on  Pakachoag  Hill  in  that  part  of  Worcester,  now  in 
Auburn,  about  1740,  on  tiie  estate  afterwards  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  Judge  Joseph  Dorr  and  William  Emerson.  He  had 
three  sons,  Samuel,  Joseph  and  Darius.  Samuel,  whose  estate 
was  between  those  of  the  original  Daniel  Bigelow  and  Ephraim 
Curtis,  Jr.,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  Pakachoag  Hill,  (see  page 
44,  and  map,)  was  father  of  the  present  Joseph,  Jubal  and 
Lewis  Boyden.  These  have  an  older  brother  Samuel,  a 
blacksmith,  now  residing  in  Oxford,  nearly  90  years  of  age, 
whose  residence,  while  in  Worcester,  occupied  the  site  of  the 
present  Universalist  Church  on  Pleasant  street,  and  whose 
shop,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Leonard  Poole,  oc- 
cupied the  site  of  Joseph  Sauer's  block  on  the  south  side  of 
Mechanic  street.  He  has  a  son,  Samuel  Boyden,  Jr.,  deacon 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Oxford.  The  first  Samuel 
Boyden  married  Sarah  Curtis,  daughter  of  Samuel  Curtis, 
senior,  (see  page  38.) 

John  Boyden  of  Worcester,  formerly  auctioneer,  broker,  &c., 
is  son  of  John  Boyden  of  Spencer,  and  grandson  of  Lieut.  John 
Boyden  of  Holden,  who  held  a  lieutenant's  commission,  dated 
1763,  now  in  possession  of  his  grandson.  It  is  a  singular  coin- 
cidence that  there  should  be  at  nearly  the  same  time  another 
Lieut.  John  Boyden,  at  the  opposite  extreme  of  the  old  town, 
on  Pakachoag  hill,  above  referred  to.  Lieut.  John  Boyden 
of  Holden  married  Betsey  Smith,  daughter  of  Capt.  David 
Smith  of  Holden. 

Elbridge  Boyden,  for  over  thirty  years,  architect,  in  Worces- 
ter, is  son  of  Amos  Boyden,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Boyden 
of  Sturbridge,  the  names  of  Amos,  John  and  Thomas,  being  on 
the  list  of  revolutionary  soldiers  from  that  town,  corroborating 
the  supposition  that  these  are  of  the  same  family  a  few  genera- 
45 


354  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

tions  back  witli  the  preceding,  it  may  be  descendants  of  Thomas 
Boyden,  joiner,  from  England,  wlio  settled  in  AVatertown,  and 
had  by  his  wife  Francis,  a  son  Thomas,  born  Sept.  26,  1B39, 
who  married  Martha  Holden,  and  had  a  daughter  Martlia,  born 
in  1667,  and  a  son  John  Boyden,  born  Dec.  6,  1672,  in  Groton. 
This  first  Thomas  of  Watertown  had  also  a  daughter  Mary, 
born  Oct.  15,  1641 ;  Rebecca,  born  Nov.  1,  1643  ;  and  Nathan- 
iel, born  in  1651.  In  1650,  the  first  Thoinas  removed  to  Gro- 
ton, and  returned  back  to  Watertown  in  1666.  The  Eordens 
of  Fall  River,  including  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  member  of 
Congress,  State  Senator,  etc.,  between  1830  and  1850,  wore  un- 
doubtedly of  this  family,  the  name  having  been  slightly  changed. 

The  Rice  Family. 

Hon.  Wm.  Whitney  Rice,  member  of  Congress  from  this  dis- 
trict, is  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  and  Lucy  (Whitney)  Rice,  for 
several  years  pastor  of  the  old  Congregational  Church  at 
Winchendon  Centre  ;  grandson  of  Capt.  Caleb  and  Sarah 
(Abbott)  Rice  of  Brookfield  ;  and  great-grandson  of  Capt.  Ben- 
jamin and  Sarah  (Upham)  Rice  of  Brookfield.  Capt.  Benjamin 
Rice,  (who  was  one  of  the  "Boston  Tea  Party"  of  Dec.  16, 
1773,  with  Capt.  Peter  Slater  of  Worcester,  Gen.  John  Spurr 
of  Charlton,  and  others,)  was  great-grandson  of  Edward  Rice, 
the  latter  being  the  second  son  of  the  original  Edmund  Rice, 
and  uncle  of  Jonas  and  Gershom  Rice,  first  permanent  settlers 
in  Worcester.  (See  page  40.)  Capt.  Benjamin  Rice's  wife  was 
a  descendent  of  Lieut.  Phinehas  Upham,  (alluded  to  on  page 
101.) 

Hon.  George  M.  Rice  and  the  late  George  T.  Rice  of  Wor- 
cester were  cousins,  grandsons  of  Tilly  and  Mary  (Buckmins- 
ter)  Rice  of  Brookfield,  great-grandsons  of  Obadiah  and  Esther 
(Merrick)  Rice  of  Brookfield,  and  great-great-grandsons  of  Ed- 
ward Rice  of  Sudbury  and  Marlborough,  who  was  uncle  of 
the  first  Jonas  and  Gershom  of  Worcester. 

Henry  C.  Rice  of  Worcester,  (whose  wife  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Chief  Justice  Charles  Allen,)  is  son  of  Oliver  and 
Cynthia  (Parker)  Rice  of  Millbury  ;  grandson  of  Daniel  and 
Anna  (Holbrook)  Rice  of  Grafton  ;  and  great-great-great-grand- 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  355 

son  of  Joseph  Rice  of  Sudbury,  sixth   son  of  the  original  Ed- 
mund, and  uncle  of  Jonas  and  Gersh'om  of  Worcester. 

Charles  W.  Rice,  for  the  last  forty  years  watch-maker  and 
jeweller  in  Worcester,  is  son  of  Elijah  and  Martha  (Goddard) 
Rice  of  Shrewsbury,  grandson  of  Elijah  and  Relief  (Williams) 
Rice  of  Princeton,  great-grandson  of  Elijah  and  Huldah  (Keyes) 
Rice  of  Sudbury,  and  great-great-grandson  of  Elisha  Rice, 
(brother  of  Jonas,  Gershom,  &c.,  see  page  43,)  who  married 
Elizabeth  Wheeler  of  Concord. 

George  F.  Rice,  for  the  last  thirty  years  a  resident  of  Wor- 
cester, whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  William  Hovey, 
is  son  of  Loammi  and  Isabel  (Fawcett)  Rice  of  Westborough, 
and  great-great-great-great-grandson  of  Samuel  Rice  of  Sud- 
bury and  Marlborough,  who  was  the  fifth  son  of  tlie  original 
Edmund  Rice. 

Benjamin  P.  Rice,  for  many  years  baker  in  Worcester,  is 
great-great-grandson  of  Joshua  Rice,  spoken  of  on  page  20. 

The  wives  of  Jonas  Rice,  and  his  brother  James,  original  set- 
tlers, (see  page  40,)  were  two  sisters,  respectively,  Mary  and 
Sarah  Stone,  daughters  of  Dea.  Daniel  and  Mary  (Moore) 
Stone  of  Sudbury,  the  latter  being  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Moore  of  Sudbury.  Dea.  Daniel  Stone  was  son  of  Dea. 
John  Stone,  (born  in  England  about  1619,  and  died  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1()83,)  and  his  wife  Anna.  Dea.  John  was  son  of 
Dea.  Gregory  Stone,  born  in  England  about  1590,  who  came 
over  with  Ids  son  John,  and  died  at  Cambridge  in  1636,  and 
died  there  in  1672,  aged  82. 

Fanny  Rice,  daughter  of  George  Keith  Rice  and  Fanny  (Har- 
back)  Rice  of  Sutton,  afterwards  of -Charlton,  married  Elijah 
Spurr,  son  of  Gen.  John  Spurr  of  Charlton,  and  father  of  Zeph- 
aniah,  George  R.,  and  the  late  Elijah  Spurr  of  Worcester. 
This  George  Keith  Rice,  (whose  sister  Lydia  was  wife  of  Hon. 
Jonas  Sibley  of  Sutton,  State  Senator,  member  of  Congress, 
etc.,)  was  son  of  Asahel  and  Mary  (Brownell)  Rice  of  Sutton, 
grandson  of  Noah  and  Hannah  (Warren)  Rice  of  Westborough, 
and  great-grandson  of  Thomas  Rice  of  Sudbury  and  Marl- 
borough, the  latter  being  brother  of  tbe  original  Jonas,  Ger- 
shom. &c.,  of  Worcester. 


356  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

The  Goddard  Family. 

William  and  Elizabeth  (Miles)  Goddard  came  from  London, 
and  settled  in  Watei'town  in  163i],  where  he  died  in  1691. 
His  son  Edward,  born  in  1675,  and  died  in  1754,  married  in 
1697,  Susanna  Stone  of  Framingham,  and  they  had  Edward, 
Jr.,  born  in  1698,  and  died  in  1777,  who  married  in  1722, 
Hepzibah  Hapgood  of  Shrewsbury,  where  he  settled  as  did  also 
his  brothers  Simon  and  ])enjamin.  Edward,  J\\  and  Hepzibah 
had  Daniel  Goddard,  born  in  1734  and  died  in  1807,  who  mar- 
ried in  1756,  Mary  Willard,  they  being  parents  of  Elder  Luther 
Goddard,  (see  page  150,)  born  in  1762,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Dakin. 

Elder  Luther  and  Elizabeth  (Dakin)  Goddard  had  in  Shrews- 
bury :  Perley,  born  Jan.  3,  1787,  died  in  Worcester,  May  25, 
1842,  married  Sarah  Crosby  of  Brookfield,  they  being  parents 
of  Samuel  B.  I.  Goddard  of  Worcester;  Martha,  born  July  1, 
1789,  married  Elijah  Rice,  (see  page  355,)  they  being  parents 
of  Charles  W.  and  Emerson  K.  Rice,  and  of  Elizabeth  G.  who 
married  Peregrine  B.  Gilbert  of  Worcester  ;  Dea.  Daniel  God- 
dard, born  Feb.  11,  1796,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Israel 
Whitney  of  Worcester,  they  being  parents  of  Luther  D.  and 
Charles  A.  Goddard,  and  of  Caroline  E.,  widow  of  Rev.  Amory 
Gale,  of  Sarah  M.  wife  of  Charles  Ballard,  and  of  Lucy  N., 
first  wife  of  the  late  Richard  Fiske,  all  of  W^orcester  ;  Levina, 
born  June  28, 1798,  married  Leonard  W.  Stowell  of  Worcester. 

Rev.  David  Goddard,  minister  of  the  old  Congregational 
Church  in  Leicester  from  1736  to  his  death  in  1754,  was  a 
brother  of  the  first  Edward  Goddard  above  mentioned,  who 
died  in  Framingham  in  1754. 

Hon.  Calvin  Goddard,  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Con- 
necticut, member  of  Congress,  and  seventeen  years  mayor  of 
Norwich,  Conn.,  who  died  there  in  1842,  aged  74,  was  brother 
of  Elder  Luther  Goddard,  and  uncle  of  Dea.  Daniel  Goddard 
of  Worcester. 

John  Goddard,  cordwainer,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Martha 
(Palfrey)  Goddard  of  Charlestown,  and  grandson  of  the  origin- 
al William  and  Elizabeth  (Miles)  Goddard,  above  mentioned, 
(see    page    261,)    married    February    19th,    1734,    Elizabeth 


RGminiscences  of    Worcester.  357 

Frost,  born  in  1713,  and  they  were  parents  of  Stephen 
Goddard,  wheelwriirht,  of  Cambridge,  who  married  in  1769, 
Mary  Goddard,  born  in  1744,  daugliter  of  Rev.  David  God- 
dard of  Leicester.  This  Stephen  and  Mary  Goddard  of  Cam- 
bridge were  parents  of  the  Stephen  and  Benjamin  Goddard 
who  came  to  Worcester  in  1806,  and  the  latter  liad  a  brother 
Isaac,  who  was  father  of  Augustas  N.,  John,  and  Wm.  E.  God- 
dard of  Worcester,  born  respectively  in  1811,  1816,  and  1819, 
of  whom  John  is  now  living  here.  Benjamin  Goddard,  who 
married  in  1808  Persis  Fullerton,  had  two  sons,  Benjamin,  Jr., 
born  in  1809,  and  Wm.  A.,  born  in  1814. 

Dea.  Daniel  Goddard  came  to  Worcester  from  Shrewsbury 
in  April,  1817,  and  opened  a  jewelry  store,  which  he  kept  for 
nearly  fifty  years,  most  of  the  time  in  company  successively 
with  his  father,  (Elder  Luther  Goddard,)  his  brother  Perley, 
and  his  son  Luther  D.  His  brother  Perley  came  here  in  1825, 
and  Perley  and  Daniel  Goddard  built  one  half  of  "  Goddard's 
Row"  in  1823,  and  the  other  half  in  1828,  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street  between  Thomas  and  School  streets,  it  beino:  the 
first  brick  block  for  stores  erected  in  Worcester,  and  in  front  of 
it  was  laid  the  first  brick  sidewalk  in  Worcester  in  1828. 
Among  the  first  apprentices  of  Dea.  Daniel  Goddard  was  the 
late  Dea.  Benjamin  Goddard,  jeweller,  whose  grandfather,  Dea. 
Benjamin  Goddard  of  Shrewsbury,  was  cousin  of  Dea.  Daniel 
Goddard's  grandfather,  Daniel,  both  the  present  Dea.  Daniel 
and  the  late  Dea.  Benjamin  of  Worcester  being  great-great- 
grandsons  of  the  Edward  Goddard,  first,  above  mentioned,  who 
married  Susanna  Stone  of  Framingham,  and  died  in  1754. 
Lydia  Goddard,  born  in  1791,  (daughter  of  the  Dea.  Beiijamin 
Goddard  of  Shrewsbury  above  mentioned,  who  died  in  1834, 
aged  92,)  was  wife  of  the  late  Levi  Howe,  the  well  known 
blacksmith,  formerly  of  Worcester,  whose  daughter  is  wife  of 
Dea.  S.  N.  Story  of  Worcester. 

The  late  Benjamin  Goddard,  machinist  and  w^re-draw^er,  of 
Worcester,  father  of  Henry,  Dorrance  S.,  and  Delano  A.  God- 
dard, was  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  Goddard  of  Royalston, 
grandson  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Kidder)  Goddard  of  Grafton, 
great-grandson  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Palfrey)  Goddard  of 


358  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Charlestown,  and  great-great-grandson  of  the  original  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Miles)  Goddard,  above  mentioned,  so  their  con- 
nection with  the  families  previously  mentioned,  may  be  easily 
traced. 

Lucius  P.,  Sextus  P.,  Joseph  B.,  Emily  L.,  Lucy  L.,  and 
Theresa  Goddard  were  children  of  Rev.  Joseph  B.  and  Lucy 
(Lincoln)  Goddard  of  Petersham.  Rev.  Charles  Grosvenor, 
settled  at  Hartland,  Conn.,  Dea.  D.  B.  Goddard  and  Wm.  P. 
Goddard  of  Worcester,  and  J.  Henry  Goddard  of  Bai-re, 
brothers,  are  sons  of  Ashbel  and  Elizabeth  S.  (Grosvenor) 
Goddard  of  Petersham,  grandsons  of  Joel  and  Anna  God- 
dard of  Petersham,  great-grandchildren  of  Deputy  Sheriff 
Robert  and  Elizabeth  Goddard  of  Petersham,  and  great-great- 
grandchildren of  Edward  and  Hepzibah  (Hapgood)  Goddard 
of  Shrewsbury,  the  latter  being  the  great-grandparents  of  Dea. 
Daniel  Goddard  of  Worcester. 

The  original  William  and  Elizabeth  (Miles)  Goddard's  son 
Joseph,  born  in  London  in  1755,  wlio  married  Deborah  Tread- 
well,  had  a  son  Robert,  born  in  Brookline,  Mass.,  in  1694. 
This  Robert  settled  in  that  part  of  old  Sutton,  now  Millbury, 
and  married  Mehitable  Spring,  by  whom  he  had  Elisha,  Mehit- 
able,  Mary  and  Robert  Spring.  This  Mehitable  Spring,  born 
March  7,  1721,  was  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Moore,  Jr.,  referred 
to  on  page  41,  and  having  no  children,  they  adopted  Benjamin 
Heywood,  (afterwards  judge,  etc.,  father  of  the  late  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Heywood  of  Worcester,  see  page  31,)  and  also  adopt- 
ed Mehitable  Goddard,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Moore's  brother, 
Elisha  Goddard  of  Sutton.  Judge  Benjamin  Heywood  after- 
wards married  this  Mehitable  Goddard,  and  resided  on  the  old 
family  estate  on  Heywood  street,  east  of  the  residence  of  the 
first  Jonas  Rice.  Joseph  and  Deborah  (Treadwell)  Goddard's 
son  John,  born  in  Brookline  in  1699,  married  Hannah  (Jenni- 
son)  Stone,  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  removed  to 
Worcester  in  1745  with  his  son  Samuel,  the  latter  then  thirteen 
years  old,  and  settled  on  the  old  Goddard  estate  just  below  the 
Tatman  estate  on  Greenwood  street  between  Quinsigamond 
Yillao-e  and  Millburv.  This  Samuel  Goddard,  who  died  June 
12,  1803,  married  Abigail  King,  and  had  three  sons  and  nine 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester,  359 

daughters,  of  whom  Joseph,  bom  April  3,  1781,  married  Rebec- 
ca Newton,  and  resided  on  the  paternal  estate  on  Greenwood 
street  in  Worcester,  below  Quinsigamond  Village.  Samuel 
Goddard's  sister  Hannah,  born  July  28,  1736,  who  came  to 
Worcester  with  her  brother  in  1745,  married  Abel  Heywood, 
(see  page  30,)  and  had  Abel,  Jr.,  Daniel  and  Hannah  Hey- 
wood. After  Abel,  senior's  death,  his  widow  Hannali  married 
Asa  Ward,  and  had  Asa,  Artemas,  (register  of  deeds,)  and 
Olivia  Ward. 

The  Tucker  Family. 

Eobert  Tucker,  who  came  from  the  west  of  England,  about 
1635,  and  settled  in  Milton,  where  his  residence  (in  which  ho 
died  in  1682,  aged  80,)  is  still  standing,  had  a  son  Benjamin, 
who  had  a  son  Ebenezer,  and  the  latter  had  a  son  Jedediah, 
who  settled  in  Shrewsbury  about  1755  witli  his  wife  Joanna, 
and  several  children,  of  whom  Daniel  mariied  March  11, 1777, 
Rachel,  daughter  of  Samuel  Noycs  of  Shrewsbury,  and  had 
Capt.  Erastus  Tucker,  now  of  Worcester,  born  Oct.  13,  1793, 
w^ho  married  in  1819  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Gates  of 
Worcester,  and  sister  of  Levi  Gates.  Capt.  Tucker,  originally 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  first  came  to  Worcester  from  Shrewsbury 
in  1813,  and  worked  on  tlie  first  Baptist  meeting-house,  and 
the  Baptist  parsonage,  then  being  erected,  (see  page  156.) 
Capt.  Tucker,  still  hale  and  active  in  his  84th  year,  has  a  broth- 
er, Eddy  Tucker,  born  Sept.  27,  1787,  now  nearly  90,  residing 
on  the  old  Noyes  homestead  in  Shrewsbury. 

Capt.  Erastus  Tucker  has  two  sons:  Erastus  N.,  now  of 
Chicago,  who  succeeded  Clarendon  Harris  as  bookseller  in 
Worcester  ;  and  Nathaniel  G.,  plumber,  of  Worcester,  whose 
wife  is  daughter  of  the  late  William  D.  Fenno,  jeweller,  and 
great-great-granddaugtlier  of  Capt.  Thomas  Stearns,  who  kept 
the  old  "  King's  Arms"  tavern,  (see  page  58.) 

Joseph  Tucker,  born  in  Milton  in  1786,  son  of  the  above 
named  Benjamin,  (and  grandson  of  the  original  Robert,)  set- 
tled in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  and  had  a  son  Joseph,  Jr.,  who  died  at 
the  siege  of  Louisburg,  June  13,  1745.  The  latter  was  father 
of  Ephraim  Tucker,  born  in  Pomfret,  May  1,  1745,  and   the 


360  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

latter  was  father  of  Calvin  Tucker,  bom  March  15,  1780,  who 
removed  from  Pomfret,  Conn.,  to  that  part  of  Oxford,  now 
Webster,  where  his  son,  Ephraim  Tucker,  for  many  years  past 
of  Worcester,  was  born  in  1821.  The  latter,  who  married 
Laurette  Culver  of  Lyme,  N.  H.,  has  four  children  :  Ephraim, 
Jr.,  born  in  1852  ;  Elmer  G.,  in  1854  ;  Albert  L.,  in  1861  ;  and 
Nellie  Maria,  in  1866. 

Benjamin  Tucker,  who  died  in  Worcester  in  1806,  aged  73, 
(father  of  Enos  Tucker,  they  being  among  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  see  pages  155  and  209,)  was 
son  of  Benjamin  and  j\[ary  Tucker,  among  the  earliest  settlers 
in  Leicester.  They  were  undoubtedly  descendants  of  the 
Robert  Tucker  above  mentioned,  though  the  connection  has 
not  been  traced. 

The  Eaton  Family. 

Thomas  Eaton,  born  May  25,  1739,  who  came  to  Worcester 
from  Sudbury,  and  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Adonijah  Rice, 
(see  page  41,)  settled  first  in  Holden,  and  then  in  the  north 
part  of  Worcester,  on  Burncoat  street,  on  the  Kingsbury  farm, 
just  above  the  Walter  Bigclow  farm,  and  afterwards  on  Holden 
street,  on  the  Wheeler  farm,  near  the  north  end  of  North 
Pond.  He  died  Aug.  25,  1783,  and  his  wife  died  Oct.  25, 
1773.  They  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  born  in  Wor- 
cester, as  follows  :  1st,  Alpheus,  born  Oct.  10,  1764,  slioe- 
maker,  resided  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Austin 
streets,  (see  page  261,)  father  of  Alpheus  Eaton,  Jr.,  and  of 
Capt.  Thomas  B.  Eaton,  town  sexton  ;  2d,  Wm.  Eaton,  county 
commissioner,  senator,  etc.,  born  Sept.  10, 1766,  (see  page  258) 
married  first  Anna  Gates,  daughter  of  Capt.  Wm.  Gates,  and 
married  second  Hannah  Chadvvick,  daughter  of  David  Chad- 
wick,  Wm.  Eaton,  3d,  son  of  Wm.  Eaton,  Jr.,  now  residing  on 
the  old  homestead  of  his  great-grandfather  Gates  on  the  corner 
of  Plantation  street  and  the  Bloomingdale  road,  while  the  first 
William  Eaton's  daughter  Sally  occupies  her  father's  old  home- 
stead on  Main  street,  (see  page  285)  ;  3d,  Sally,  born  Jan.  1, 
1769  ;  4th,  Polly,  born  May  28,  1771 ;  5th,  Amherst,  born 
April  10,  1773,  married  first  a  Wise,  and  second  a  Mann  of 
Hardw  ick,  resided  awhile  on  Mechanic  street,  and  then  went  to 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  361 

Boston,  where  lie  kept  the  famous  "  Concert  Hall  Coffee  House" 
on  the  corner  of  Court  and  Hanover  streets  many  years,  after- 
wards kept  by  Peter  B.  Brigham,  his  son  Amlierst  Eaton,  Jr., 
residing  on  his  father's  estate  in  Worcester  on  Mechanic 
street  ;  6th,  Thomas  Eaton,  Jr.,  born  Oct.  21, 1776,  went  west ; 
7th,  Russell  Eaton,  born  March  1,  1779,  lived  in  Holden  ;  8tli, 
Nathaniel,  hotel-keeper,  &c.,  (see  page  50,)  born  Dec.  21, 1781, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Capt.  Simeon  Duncan,  they  being 
parents  of  Mrs.  Albert  Brown,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Walker,  Mrs. 
Augustus  Tucker,  and  of  Frederick,  Francis  W.,  Charles, 
James,  and  Nathaniel  Eaton,  Jr.,  the  wife  of  the  latter  being  a 
daughter  of  John  Foxcroft. 

There  was  a  Jonas  Eaton,  (probably  of  the  same  family  with 
the  above  a  few  generations  back,)  who  came  from  South  Read- 
ing, and  settled  on  Pakachoag  hill  in  Auburn  about  1785,  on 
the  estate  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grandsons,  Tliomas 
S.  and  Joseph  P.  Eaton.  The  estate  previously  belonged  to 
Thomas  Nichols,  one  of  the  early  settlers  there,  it  being  soutli 
of  the  original  Gershom  Rice  place.  The  original  house  stood 
on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  the  main  part  of  that  in  which 
Thomas  S.  Eaton  now  lives  being  built  by  his  grandfather  soon 
after  he  came  here.  Jonas  Eaton  had  two  sons,  William  and 
Thomas,  of  whom  William  remained  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  Thomas  built  the  house  in  which  his  son  Joseph  P.  Eaton 
now  lives.  Another  son  of  Thomas,  Daniel  T.  Eaton,  lives  in 
Auburn  Centre. 

A.  M.  Eaton,  grocer,  of  Worcester,  is  son  of  Marson  Eaton, 
who  came  to  Worcester  in  1835,  the  latter  being  son  of  Marson 
Eaton  of  Pelham.  The  father  of  the  latter  came  from  Lanca- 
shire, England. 

How  near  any  of  the  above  families  may  be  traced  to  the 
Joshua  and  Samuel  Eaton  here  in  1742,  remains  to  be  seen. 

The  Harrington  Family. 

Robert  Harrington  of  Watertown,  (selectman  fifteen  years,) 

who  died  there,  May  17,  1707,  married  Susanna  George,  and 

had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Edward,  born  March  2,  1669, 

w\as  married   and    had    nine    children,   born    in   Watertown, 

46 


362  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

the  youngest  sou  of  the  latter  being  Francis  Harrington,  born 
June  11,  1709,  and  died  July  18, 1793,  who  married  Nov.  16, 
1736,  Prudence  Stearns,  and  removed  to  Grafton,  and  after- 
wards to  Worcester,' being  here  as  early  as  1740.  He  settled 
on  the  old  Harrington  homestead  on  what  is  now  called  ''  Har- 
ington  Court,"  near  the  corner  of  Plantation  street  and  the 
Bloomingdale  road.  He  was  father  of  Nathaniel  Harrington, 
the  latter  being  father  of  the  late  Francis  Harrington,  who 
was  father  of  the  present  Francis  Harrington.  Nathaniel  had 
also  a  son  Jonathan,  and  the  latter  a  son  Benjamin  ;  the  pres- 
ent Benjamin  F.  and  H.  A.  Harrington  being  sons  of  Benjamin. 

The  Stoavell  Family. 
In  addition  to  what  is  stated  on  page  53  of  the  descendants 
of  Cornelius  Stovvell,  his  daughter  Mary  married  John  Adams 
of  Boston  ;  and  his  granddaughter  Eliza,  daugliter  of  Peter 
Stowell,  married  Thomas  Howe,  of  Worcester,  father  of  George 
S.  and  Albert  J.  Howe,  wholesale  druggists.  The  latter's  sis- 
ter Eliza  married  Wm.  A.  Smith,  and  tlieir  sister  Mary  married 
Wm.  A.  Noyes,  of  the  former  firm  of  Noyes  &  Long  of  Worces- 
ter. 

Other  Families. 
James  Trowbridge,  born  in  1717,  (son  of  Dea.  William  and 
Sarah  Ward  Trowbridge  of  Newton,)  married  in  1740  Jerusha 
Park,  and  settled  in  W^orcester  in  what  is  now  Trowbridgeville, 
where  his  son,  Dea.  William  Trow^bridge,  grandfather  of  Wm. 
T.,  Francis  T.,  and  Alpheus  M.  Merrifield,  (see  page  43,)  after- 
wards lived.  This  James  w^as  cousin  of  Judge  Edmund  Trow- 
bridge, James  and  Edmund  being  grandsons  of  Dea.  James 
Trowbridge  born  in  Dorchester  in  1736,  and  great-grandsons 
of  the  original  Thomas  Trowbridge  from  Taunton,  Somerset- 
shire, England,  in  1734,  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this 
country. 

Timothy  Merrifield,  who  married  a  cousin  of  Commodore  0. 
H.  Perry,  came  from  Sherborn  to  Worcester  about  1780,  and 
resided  in  the  last  house  towards  West  Boylston  on  the  old 
Holden  and  Shrewsbury  turnpike.     He  died  in  1806.     He  w  as 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  363 

father  of  the  late  Dea.  Alpheiis  Merrifield,  who  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Wm.  Trowbridge,  (see  page  43,)  and  was 
father  of  William  T:,  Alpheus  M.,  and  Francis  T.  Merrifield  of 
Worcester. 

Cornelius  Waldo,  (grandfather  of  the  last  Daniel  Waldo,) 
was  one  of  the  most  extensive  land  owners  in  Worcester  for 
several  years  after  the  first  organization  of  the  town.  He  had  a 
store  here  as  late  as  1740.  He  had  three  sons,  John,  Samuel  and 
Joseph,  extensive  landed  proprietors  previous  to  the  revolution, 
but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  resided  here  long.  Another 
brother  of  the  latter,  the  first  Daniel  Waldo,  who  came  here  in 
1782,  invested  but  little  in  real  estate,  though  he  was  one  of 
the  two  wealthiest  citizens  of  his  time  in  the  town,  his  tax 
amounting  in  1789  to  nearly  twenty  pounds  sterling,  and  that 
of  the  elder  Stephen  Salisbury  to  nearly  eighteen  pounds  ;  the 
next  highest  taxes  at  that  being  those  of  the  elder  Levi  Lin- 
coln, a  little  over  seven  pounds  ;  Nathan  Patch,  a  little  over 
six  and  a  half  pounds  ;  John  Nazro,  a  little  over  six  and  a  quar- 
ter pounds ;  Isaiah  Thomas,  a  little  over  five  and  a  half 
pounds ;  Clark  Chandler,  five  and  one-third  pounds  ;  and 
Charles  and  Samuel  Chandler  together,  five  and  one-half 
pounds.  Martha  Salisbury,  (a  sister  of  the  elder  Stephen,) 
was  taxed  four  and  a  quarter  pounds ;  and  Daniel  Waldo,  Jr., 
a  little  over  three  and  a  half  pounds.  The  total  tax  of  the 
town  was  then  about  four  hundred  pounds  sterling,  there  being 
about  four  hundred  resident  tax  payers. 

Gov.  John  Hancock,  who  succeeded  to  the  possession  of  vast 
landed  estates  in  the  northern  section  of  the  town  from  his  fa- 
tl\er,  Thomas  Hancock,  who  died  in  1764,  continued  to  hold  a 
large  portion  of  them  until  his  own  decease  in  1793.  As  late 
as  1800,  his  heirs  were  taxed  for  143  acres,  a  mile  or  two  north 
of  Lincoln  Square.  When  the  elder  Stephen  Salisbury  came 
here  in  1767,  he  purchased  of  Gov.  Hancock  the  main  portion 
of  his  farm,  northwest  of  Lincoln  Square,  now  in  possession 
of  his  son.  A  portion  of  the  Salisbury  estate,  just  north  of 
Lincoln  Square,  was  purchased  of  Jose]  li  Waldo,  and  some  of 
that   west   of  Lincoln    Square   previously    belonged   to    Luke 


364  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Brown  and  Isaiah  Tliomas.  Jndgc  William  Jcnnison,  who 
came  here  as  early  as  1725,  originally  owned  nearly  a  thousand 
acres  west  and  east  of  Lincoln  Squre,  (see  page  56.) 

The  late  Gen.  George  H.  Ward,  who  died  in  the  service  of 
his  country  in  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion,  in  which  he  achieved  a 
noble  record,  losing  a  leg  at  Ball's  Bluff,  and  his  life  at  Gettys- 
burg, was  son  of  Col.  Artemas  Ward,  2d,  and  great-great- 
grandson  of  Major  Daniel  Ward,  (alluded  to  on  pages  21  and 
81,)  the  latter  being  son  of  the  original  settler,  Obadiah  Ward, 
whob;e  brother  William  Ward  was  grandfather  of  Maj.  Gen. 
Artemas  Ward  of  revolutionary  fame.  This  ancestor  Obadiah 
Ward  was  son  of  William  and  Hannah  AVard  of  Marlboro',  and 
irrandson  of  the  oridnal  William  and  Elizabeth  W^ard,  who 
came  from  England,  and  settled  in  Sudbury  in  1674.  The 
late  Gen.  George  H.  Ward,  who  married  Emily  E.,  daughter  of 
Dea.  Wm.  Mayo,  left  two  sons,  George  W.  and  Robert  L. 
Ward.  His  brother,  Henry  C.  Ward,  was  with  him  in  the  ser- 
vice, as  lieutenant,  and  now  holds  a  captain's  commission  in 
the  United  States  army. 

Col.  Ebenezer  Lovell,  of  revolutionary  fame,  who  came  to 
Worcester  before  1775,  settled  on  the  estate  on  May  and  Lovell 
streets,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  successively  by  Enoch 
P.  Rice  and  James  R.  Pierce.  His  farm  comprised  some  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  both  sides  of  Mill  Brook.  His  daugh- 
ter Nancy  was  the  first  wife  of  the  late  Capt.  Ephraim  Mower. 
Another  daughter  was  wife  of  Capt.  Lewis  Barnard,  they  being 
parents  of  the  present  Lewis  Barnard,  and  of  the  late  Gen. 
Ebenezer  L.  and  Capt.  John  Barnard.  The  connection  of  Col. 
Lovell  with  the  Lovell  family  alluded  to  elsewhere,  has  not  been 
traced. 

Capt.  Thomas  Cowdin,  (whose  daughter  was  wife  of  Dr. 
Thaddeus  Maccarty,)  came  here  about  1741,  after  having  learn- 
ed the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Marlboro',  and  had  a  black- 
smith shop  in  the  rear  of  Main  street,  between  School  and 
Thomas  streets,  it  being  the  same  shop  afterwards  owned  and 
occupied  by  David  Curtis,  grandfather  of  George  William  Cur- 
tis, Capt.  Cowdin  having  removed  to  Fitchburg. 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  365 

James  Barber,  father  and  son,  resided  on  the  estate  on 
Brooks  street,  near  the  corner  of  Burncoat  street,  afterwards 
owned  and  occupied  by  Isaac  Lamb.  The  first  James  Barber, 
who  was  son  of  the  original  Robert  Barber,  was  father  of  the 
second  Dr.  Jolin  Green's  wife.  Joseph  Barber,  brother  of  the 
first  James,  resided  on  the  original  Barber  liomestead  in  North- 
ville,  novvr  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grandson,  WiUiam  T. 
Barber. 

Gen.  William  Greenleaf,  from  Lancaster,  sheriff  of  the  coun- 
ty from  1778  to  1788,  married  Sally  Quincy,  cousin  of  Josiah 
Quincy,  and  sister  of  Mrs.  Gov.  John  Hancock.  Their  son  Daniel 
Greenleaf,  born  Oct.  9,  1778,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Dea. 
John  Chamberlain  of  Worcester,  and  had  William,  John  C, 
and  Dolly  Ann  Greenleaf,  the  latter  now  the  widow  of  James 
H.  Jerauld. 

Jeffrey  Hemcnway,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Hepzibah  (Cross- 
man)  Hemenway,  wdio  came  to  Worcester  from  Framingham 
in  1778,  settled  on  May  street,  on  the  estate  he  then  purchased 
of  Col.  Ebenezer  Lovell,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  daugh- 
ter Hannah  Hemenway.  The  present  Ebenezer  Hemenway  is 
a  son  of  Jeffrey,  who  died  in  1819,  aged  80. 

There  have  been  three  generations  of  the  name  Thomas 
Drury,  Thomas  Baird,  Jonathan  Stone,  and  Benjamin  Wiser, 
in  Auburn,  beginning  over  one  hundred  years  ago,  each  of  the 
three  residing  on  the  same  ancestral  liomestead,  respectively, 
as  indicated  on  the  map,  on  the  territory  belonging  to  Worces- 
ter previous  to  1778.  The  first  Thomas  Baird  was  brother  of 
the  Daniel  Baird,  (sometimes  spelled  Beard,)  who  first  kept 
the  old  Baird  tavern  on  the  road  from  Worcester  to  Grafton. 
Capt.  Simeon  Duncan,  second  one  of  three  generations  of  that 
name,  lived  in  Auburn  as  long  ago  as  1780  on  the  place  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  S.  Clark.  His  sons  resided 
elsewdiere  in  Worcester.* 

*  The  Drurys  lived  on  the  estate  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Elnathan 
Davis  ;  the  Wisers  on  the  estate  now  owned  and  occnpied  by  J.  F.  Beane  ;  the 
Stones  on  the  estate  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Emery  Stone;  and 
tlie  Bairds  on  the  estate  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Dea.  Swan  Knowl- 
ton,  now  of  Worcester. 


FRAGMENTARY  GATHERINGS. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


The  Old  Worcester  Fire  Society. 

The  "  Worcester  Fire  Society"  was  organized  Jan.  21, 1793, 
with  the  following  original  twenty-two  members  : 

Joseph  Allen,  John  Nazro,  Leonard  Worcester,  Nathaniel  Paine,  Samuel 
Chandler,  Ezra  Waldo  Weld,  Dr.  John  Green,  Samuel  Eraser,  Thomas  Pay- 
son,  Edward  Bangs,  Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  William  Sever,  Theophilus  Wheeler, 
Dr.  Oliver  Fiske,  John  Paine,  Samuel  Allen,  Stephen  Salisbury,  Charles 
Chandler,  John  Stanton,  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  Daniel  Waldo,  Jr.,  and  Isaiah 
Thomas. 

April  1,  1793,  the  following  additional  members  were  ad- 
mitted : 

Capt.  Samuel  Bridge,  Maj.  Ephraim  ^Slower,  Col.  Daniel  Clapp,  and  Col. 
Samuel  Flagg. 

In  subsequent  years,  new  members  were  admitted  as  follows  : 

Thomas  Chandler,  Gardner  L.  Chandler,  Wm.  Caldwell,  and  Dr.  William 
Paine,  in  1794;  and  Joseph  Allen,  Jr.,  in  1795;  Isaiah  Thomas,  Jr.,  in 
1796  ;  George  Merriam,  and  James  Wilson,  in  1797  ;  and  Levi  Lincoln,  in 
1800. 

The  members  added  in  subsequent  years  have  been  from 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town  and  city.  Hon.  Stephen 
Salisbury,  admitted  in  1824,  is  now  the  oldest  living  member. 

The  founders  of  this  organization  were  induced  to  their  ac- 
tion, in  the  words  of  the  preamble  to  their  by-laws,  "  by  a  sense 
of  social  duty,  for  the  more  effectual  assistance  of  each  other 
and  of  their  townsmen,  in  times  of  danger  from  fire." 

As  an  index  of  the  quality  of  the  members  of  this  organiza- 
tion, it  may  be  stated  that  ten  of  its  members  have  been  mayors 
of  Worcester,  three  have  been  governors  of  the   State,  three 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  367 

have  been  speakers  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  five  have 
been  judges  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  five  have  been 
judges  of  the  Superior  Court  or  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  ten 
have  been  members  of  Congress,  one  has  been  a  foreign  minis- 
ter, and  a  large  number  of  them  have  been  councillors,  senators 
and  representatives  in  the  General  Court.  This  society  was 
modeled  after  that  organized  by  Benjamin  Franklin  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1735,  which  was  in  existence  when  this  was  formed. 
The  late  Gov,  Lincoln  gave  reminiscences  of  the  tvvcntv-two 
original  members  in  1862  ;  Hon.  Isaac  Davis  gave  a  written 
account  of  the  next  succeeding  fifteen  members  in  1870  ;  and 
Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Thomas  in  1874  gave  a  graphic  biography 
of  the  next  fifteen  members,  beginning  with  Gov.  Lincoln,  and 
ending  with  Edward  D.  Bangs.  And  Col.  Davis,  a  member 
since  1827,  has  also  added  an  interesting  biographical  sketch 
of  the  members  from  Edward  D.  Bangs,  who  died  in  1838,  to 
the  oldest  living  member. 

A  similar  organization  was  instituted  the  year  previous  (1792) 
in  Boston,  called  the  "  Charitable  Fire  Society  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts,"  composed  entirely  of  citizens  of  Bos- 
ton, the  original  membership  of  which  comprised  the  following 
persons,  the  first  on  the  list  being  a  brother  of  Isaiah  Thomas 
of  Worcester,  and  the  last  a  relative,  others  being  also  prob- 
ably relatives  of  many  belonging  to  the  Worcester  Society  : 

*  Joshua  Thomas,  Shubael  Bell,  *  Wra.  Allen,  Alexander  Young,  *  John 
Bridge,  Oliver  P.  Holyokc,  Abraham  Evv  ards,  Ebenezer  Niles,  Benjamin  E. 
Haggar,  John  Staples,  John  Collar,  *  Kichard  Gridley,  Jr.,  Thomas  Godfrey, 
Wm.  Woods,  Jacob  Emmons,  Edward  Cole,  *  Wm.  Crosby,  *  Nathaniel 
Johnson,  Joseph  Baxter,  Benjamin  Richardson,  David  Marston,  Samuel 
Etheridge,  *  Daniel  Weld,  Gad  Kelley,  *  Ebenezer  Eaton,  John  Minot, 
^  Wm.  B.  Eaton,  Joseph  Dickman,  Wm.  Woart,  Mamay  Mason,  Isaac 
Carnean,  Ephraim  Bell,  Peter  Cades,  John  Dodge,  D.  Frederick  Enslin, 
Charles  Clement,  John  Jatan,  John  H.  Meckell,  *  Thomas  K.  Thomas. 

*Probably  relations  of  Worcester  families. 

Before  the  organization  of  the  fire  department  here  in  1885, 
the  Worcester  Fire  Society  was  relied  upon  as  the  only  organ- 
ized instrumentality  for  aid  in  the  extinguishment  of  fires. 
Its  members  were  supplied  with  buckets  which  were  placed  ac 
their  respective  dwellings  and  places  of  businesss,  so  as  to  be 
reached  on  the  earliest  alarm  being  given.  The  old  organiz- 
ation is  still  kept  up,  its  members,  comprising  the  descendants 


3G8  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

of  the  solid  men  of  the  town,  meeting  four  times  a  year  for 
festival  and   social  purposes. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  formation  of  this  society  is  sug- 
gested to  have  been  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  weavers 
shop  of  Cornelius  &  Peter  Stowell,  on  the  corner  of  Park  and 
Orange  streets,  Jan.  4,  1793,  and  it  is  also  probable  that  tlie 
fact  that  the  dwelling-house  of  one  of  the  original  members, 
Col.  Samuel  Flagg,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Park  streets, 
was  burned  Jan.  26, 1786,  when  there  was  no  fire  engine  in 
the  town,  called  the  attention  of  the  citizens  to  the  need  of 
some  public  efforts  for  protection  against  the  devouring  ele- 
ment, as  the  town  records  show  that  in  March,  1786,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  "  take  the  request  of  Capt.  [afterwards 
Col.]  Samuel  Flagg  and  otlicrs  mentioned  in  the  tenth  article 
in  regard  to  the  town  granting  a  sum  of  money  to  purchase  a 
fire  engine,  and  make  a  report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  meet- 
ing wdiat  the  cost  of  one  would  be."  This  committee  consisted 
of  Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  Daniel  Waldo,  Jr.,  Col.  Samuel  Flagg,  and 
Hon.  Benjamin  Hey  wood,  all  but  one  of  whom  were  original 
members  of  the  society.  Although  a  favorable  report  was  made 
by  this  committee,  the  town  voted  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  pur- 
chase an  engine.  However,  in  1790,  Dr.  Elijah  Dix,  Col.  Sam- 
uel Flagg,  Stephen  Salisbury  and  Capt.  John  Stanton,  members 
of  the  Fire  Society,  were  appointed  by  the  town  fire  wardens. 
January  14,  1793,  a  few  days  after  the  Stowell  fire,  the  first 
appropriation  was  made  by  the  town  for  the  purchase  of  a  fire 
engine,  although  there  had  previously  been  one  for  a  short  time 
owned  by  private  individuals,  called  the  "  Proprietors'  engine." 
At  a  town  meeting  in  November,  1793,  it  was  voted  to  pay  for 
the  engine  which  had  been  purchased  by  a  committee  consist- 
ing of  Col.  Flagg,  Dr.  Dix  and  Judge  Nathaniel  Paine,  original 
members  of  the  Fire  Society.  The  first  ladders  in  the  town 
were  also  owned  by  this  society,  six  of  which  were  purchased 
by  authority  of  a  vote  passed  at  its  first  meeting,  and  at  the 
April  meeting  in  1793,  the  places  where  the  ladders  were  put, 
were  assigned,  as  follows  :  One  short  one  on  Judge  Nathaniel 
Paine's  garden  fence,  on  Pleasant  street,  near  where  the  Bap- 
tist Church  now  is  ;  one  long  one  on  the  Court  House  ;  one 
short  one  on  the  fence  near  the   enffinc  house,  on   land  given 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  369 

for  the  purpose  by  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  on  Main  street,  near 
the  corner  of  School  street ;  one  short  one  on  the  fence  near 
Dr.  Dix's  house,  nearly  opposite  School  street ;  one  short  one 
on  Capt.  John  Stanton's  garden  fence  on  Main  street,  near  the 
corner  of  Foster  street  ;  and  one  long  one  on  the  South  Meet- 
ing-house. The  long  ladders  were  to  be  at  least  33  feet  long, 
and  the  short  ones  not  less  tlian  20. 

Worcester  Fire  Department. 

The  first  special  legislative  enactment  in  relation  to  fire  com- 
panies in  Worcester  was  in  1828,  w4ien  the  selectmen  were  au- 
thorized to  appoint  any  number  of  engineers  and  firemen  to 
be  organized  into  companies  under  their  direction. 

The  Fire  Department  of  the  town  was  permanently  established 
by  a  legislative  act  of  Feb.  25,  1835,  and  organized  by  the 
choice  of  the  following  board  of  engineers  :  Capt.  Lewis  Bige- 
low,  John  F.  Clark,  Col.  Isaac  Davis,  Francis  T.  Merrick, 
George  T.  Rice,  Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  Lewis  Thayer,  Col.  Sam- 
uel Ward  and  Dea.  Ichabod  Washburn.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  this  board,  May  2,  1835,  Col.  Isaac  Davis  was  chosen  chief 
engineer,  Capt.  Lewis  Bigelow  assistant  to  the  chief,  and  Icha- 
bod Washburn  clerk  of  the  board.  Of  this  original  board  of 
fire  engineers  of  the  town,  forty-two  years  ago,  Col.  Davis  and 
Gen.  Heard  alone  survive.  The  chief  engineers  since  1835 
have  been  :  Col.  Isaac  Davis  in  1836  ;  Gen.  Nathan  Heard  in 
1837,  1838,  and  1839 ;  Henry  W.  Miller  five  years  from  1810, 
inclusive  ;  Joel  Wilder  five  years  from  1845  ;  E.  N.  Holmes 
five  years  from  1850  ;  Leonard  W.  Sturtevant  four  years 
from  1855  ;  Samuel  A.  Porter  in  1859  ;  Leonard  R.  Hudson 
in  1860  ;  Alzirus  Brown  five  years  from  1861  ;  A.  B.  Lovell 
three  years  from  1866  ;  R.  M.  Gould  three  years  from  1869  ; 
Simon  E.  Combs  six  years  from  1872. 

The  Oldest   Roads. 

The  oldest  established  routes  of  travel  through   Worcester, 

after  the  permanent  settlements  begun,  were  :   first,  from  the 

Boston  and  Lancaster  roads  through  Lincoln  and  Main  streets 

to  New  Worcester  and  the   Leicester  road  ;  and  second,  from 

49 


370  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

the  old  Boston  road  by  the  upper  end  of  Lake  Quinsigamond 
through  Plantation  street  to  the  Grafton  road,  and  thence  cross- 
ing over  on  to  Heywood  street,  by  the  dwellings  of  Dea.  Na- 
thaniel Moore  and  Jonas  and  James  Rice,  first  settlers,  near  the 
present  grounds  of  George  Crompton,  on  Sagatabscot  Hill  ; 
thence  passing  west  across  Vernon  street,  near  where  is  now 
Endicott  street,  on  to  Ward  street,  and  thence  through  Ward 
street  and  Cambridge  street  to  New  Worcester. 

The  Plantation  street  route  tlu^ough  Worcester  from  Boston 
to  Connecticut  river,  was  traveled  many  years,  but  gave  way 
to  the  one  through  Main  street  as  the  settlements  in  tlie  centre 
increased. 

The  next  oldest  roads  are  :  The  old  road  to  Rutland,  througli 
Salisbury  street ;  the  Grafton  road,  over  wliat  is  now  Harring- 
ton street,  its  first  location  ;  the  road  through  Green  and  Ver- 
non and  Greenwood  streets,  and  the  first  settled  part  of  Mill- 
bury  to  Sutton  ;  Pleasant  street  through  Tatnuck  to  the  north 
part  of  Leicester  and  Paxton  ;  what  are  now  Holden  and  West 
Boylston  streets,  and  the  old  highway  from  Shrewsbury  to 
Holden  and  Rutland  afterwards  known  as  the  ''  Holden  and 
Shrewsbury  turnpike,"  now  Mountain  street,  by  the  ancient  res- 
idences of  Jonathan  Lovell,  Dea.  David  Bigelow  and  Timothy 
Me  rri  field. 

Tlie  Boston  and  Worcester  and  Stafford  turnpikes,  from  Bos- 
ton to  New  York,  through  the  south  part  of  Shrewsbury,  over 
the  middle  of  Long  Pond  by  a  floating  bridge,  through  Belmont 
street,  then  first  opened  to  Lincoln  Square,  and  thence  through 
Main  street  to  New  Worcester  and  over  Stafford  street,  through 
the  south  part  of  Leicester  and  the  north  part  of  Charlton,  to 
Hartford,  Conn.,  were  begun  in  1806. 

Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions. 

The  delegates  from  Worcester  to  the  three  constitutional 
conventions  which  have  been  held,  were  as  follows  :  To  the 
first  convention,  in  1780,  to  frame  the  constitution  :  Gov.  Levi 
Lincoln,  senior,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen  and  Dea.  David  Bigelow  ; 
to  the  second  constitutional  convention,  in  1820,  to  amend  the 
first  constitution:     Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  junior,   Dr.   Abraham 


Reyniniscences  of    Worcester.  371 

Lincoln  and  Judge  Edward  Bangs  ;  and  to  the  third  constitu- 
tional convention,  in  1853,  to  make  a  further  revision:  Hon. 
Charles  Allen,  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  Hon.  John  S.  C.  Knowlton, 
Plon.  John  Milton  Earle  and  Hon.  Henry  Chapin. 

Presidential  Electors. 
Tlie  following  is  a  list  of  presidential  electors  for  the  Wor. 
cester  district,  since  the  organization  of  the  government  in 
1789.  Where  portions  of  Worcester  county  were  taken  to 
form  parts  of  other  Congressional  or  Presidential  electoral  dis- 
tricts, the  names  of  all  those  from  towns  in  Worcester  county 
are  given.  The  year  given  is  the  presidential  year  for  which 
the  electors  served,  generally  following  the  year  in  which  they 
were  chosen  : 

Moses  Gill  of  Princeton  in  1789  ;  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton  and  Dwight 
Foster  of  Brookfield  in  1793  ;  Josepli  Allen  of  Worcester  in  1797  and  1801  ; 
Gen.  Timothy  Newell  of  Sturbridge  in  1805  ;  Benjamin  Heywood  of  Wor- 
cester in  1809;  Benjamin  Heywood  of  Worcester  and  Eleazer  James  of 
Barre  in  1813  ;  Jonas  Kendall  of  Leominster,  Bezaleel  Taft  of  Uxbridge 
and  Seth  Washburn  of  Leicester  in  1817  ;  Jonas  Sibley  of  Sutton  in  1821  ; 
Levi  Lincoln  of  Worcester,  Edmund  Gushing  of  Lunenburg  and  Jonathan 
Davis  of  Oxford  in  1825  ;  Edmund  Gushing  of  Lunenburg  and  Jonathan 
Davis  of  Oxford  in  1829  ;  Aaron  Tufts  of  Dudley  and  Samuel  Lee  of  Barre 
in  1833  ;  Joseph  G.  Kendall  of  Worcester,  Samuel  Lee  of  Barre,  Bezaleel 
Taft,  Jr.,  of  Uxbridge,  and  Loammi  Baldwin  of  Phillipston  in  1837  ;  Ira 
M.  Barton  of  Worcester  and  Samuel  Mixter  of  New  Braintree  in  1841  ; 
Charles  Allen  of  Worcester  in  1845  ;  Benjamin  F,  Thomas  of  Worcester  in 
1849  ;  Rufus  Bullock  of  Royalston  and  Ebenezer  Torrey  of  Fitchburg  in 
1853  ;  John  S.  0.  Knowlton  of  Worcester  in  1857  ;  Amasa  Walker  of  North 
Brookfield  and  Charles  Field  of  Athol  in  1861  ;  Levi  Lincoln  of  Worcester 
in  1805  ;  Paul  Whitin  of  Northbridge  in  1809  ;  Stephen  Salisbury  of  Wor- 
cester and  Aaron  C.  Mayhew  of  Milford  in  1873  ;  Stephen  Salisbury  of 
AV^orcester  and  John  C.  Whitin  of  Northbridge  in  1877. 

Worcester  Jury  List — 1742. 

Charles  Adams,  Thomas  Adams,  Samuel  Andrew,  Robert  Barber,  Daniel 
Bigelow,  Daniel  Boyden,  Robert  Blnir,  James  Boyd,  Jonathan  Ballard,  John 
Chadwick,  Joseph  Clark,  Joshua  Child,  John  Curtis,  Joseph  Crosby,  Daniel 
Duncan,  Joshua  Eaton,  Samuel  Eaton,  James  Forbush,  Isaac  Fiske,  Ebenezer 
Flagg,  Elisha  Flagg,  Benjamin  Gates,  Jonathan  Gates,  John  Gates,  Palmer 
Goulding,  James  Goodwin,  Matthew  Gray,  Robert  Gray,  Wm.  Gray,  Jr., 
Timothy  Green,  John  Hill,  Elisha  Hoge,  James  Howe,  Jacob  Holmes,  Dan- 
iel Hubbard,  James  Holden,  Francis  Harrington,  W^m.  Jennison,  Israel  Jen- 
nison,  Edward  Knight,  Jr.,  Micah  Lovell,  Nathaniel  Moore,  Nathaniel  Moore, 
Jr.,  James  Moore,  Isaac  Moore,  Samuel  Mower,  Andrew  McFarland, 
Thomas  Parker,  M;ij.  Jonas  Rice,  Gershom  Rice,  Jonas  Rice,  Jr.,  Abisha 
Rice,  Eliakim  Rice,  Jotham  Rice,  Absalom  Rice,  Thomas  Rice,  Tyrus 
Rice,  Joseph  Rugg  Thomas  Stearns,  Nathaniel  Spring,  John  Stoweis, 
Elisha  Smith,  Joseph  Temple,  Samuel  Thomas,  Daniel  Ward,  Obadiah  W^ar(% 
Isaac  Witherby,  Ebenezer  Willington,  Thomas  AVheeler,  David  Young. 


372  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Worcester  Jury  List — 1757  to  1760. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  one  hundred  persons  qualified  to 
serve  as  jurors  in  Worcester,  for  1757.     Fifteen  of  the  names 
for  1757  do  not  appear  on  the  list  for  17G0,  indicating  the  num- 
ber of  persons  serving  during  the  intermediate  period  : 

Charles  Adams,  Nathaniel  Adams,  Samuel  Andrews,  Nathan  Baldwin, 
David  Bancroft,  David  Bigelow,  Joshua  Bigelovs',  Luke  Brown,  James  Brown, 
James  Blair,  Daniel  Boyden,  John  Boyden,  James  Barber,  Robert  Barber, 
Samuel  Brooks,  Jeremiah  Beath,  Josiah  Brewer,  Jr.,  Samuel  Bridge,  John 
Curtis,  Jr.,  Samuel  Curtis,  James  Carlisle,  John  Chadwick,  John  Chadwick, 
Jr.,  Benjamin  Chapin,  Thomas  Cowdin,  Jacob  Chamberlain,  Joseph  Clark, 
Ephraim  Doolittle,  Simeon  Duncan,  Samuel  Eaton,  David  Earl,  Benjamin 
Flagg,  Phinehas  Flagg,  Ebenezer  Flagg,  Josiah  Flagg,  John  Fisk,  Benjamin 
Fisk,  John  Green,  John  Gates,  Jonathan  Gates,  Solomon  Gates,  Simon 
Gates,  Matthew  Gray,  John  Goddard,  James  Goodwin,  Isaac  Gleason,  Phine- 
has Gleason,  Daniel  Heywood,  Jacob  Holmes,  Ezekiel  Howe,  Jr.,  Josiah 
Harrington,  Francis  Harrington,  Jacob  Hemenway,  Daniel  Hubbard,  Israel 
Jennison,  Solomon  Johnson,  Jr.,  Micah  Johnson,  Aser  Johnson,  Noah  Jones, 
Ebenezer  Lovell,  Jonathan  Mower,  Samuel  Mower,  Jr.,  Asa  Moore,  Isaac 
Moore,  Samuel  Moore,  Nathaniel  Moore,  Jr.,  John  Mahan,  Wm.  Mahan,  Jr., 
James  McFarland,  Wm.  McFarland,  Daniel  McFarland,  Samuel  Miller, 
James  Nichols,  Nathan  Perry,  Josiah  Pierce,  TyrusRice,  Gershom  Rice,  Jr., 
Absalom  Rice,  James  Rice,  Thomas  Richardson,  Jabez  Sargent,  Elisha 
Smith,  Jr.,  Thomas  Stearns,  Cornelius  Stowell,  John  Stowers,  Jonathan 
Stone,  Stephen  Sawing,  Joseph  Temple,  James  Trowbridge,  David  Thomas, 
David  Taylor,  Othniel  Taylor,  Joseph  Wiley,  Ebenezer  Wellington,  Ben- 
jamin Whitney,  Thomas  A\  heeler,  Thomas  AV heeler,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Wiswall, 
Daniel  Ward,  Henry  Ward,  Phinehas  AVard,  AVm.  Young. 

Isaiah  Thomas'  Printing  Office. 

Among  the  relics  of  Isaiah  Thomas'  old  printing  office  now 
in  possession  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  is  the  old 
ramage  press,  made  probably  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago, 
with  the  imposing  stone  upon  which  the  forms  of  the  Spy  and 
tlie  pages  of  his  numerous  publications  were  made  up.  With 
them  are  the  stand,  cases,  chase,  and  two  composing  sticks,  all 
of  antique  pattern,  donated  to  the  Society  by  Messrs.  Tyler  & 
Seagrave,. present  proprietors  of  the  old  Spy  Job  office.  All 
these  articles  are  arranged  in  printing  office  order  in  a  separate 
apartment,  appropriated  for  that  purpose,  in  the  Society's 
building. 

Other  Newspapers,  kc. 

The  "  Advocate  of  Peace,"  edited  by  Elihu  Burritt,  and 
published  by  the  American  Peace  Society,  was  printed  here  for 
several  years  since  1847  by  H.  J.  Howland. 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  373 

The  "  Christian  Reflector"  was  an  anti-slavery  Baptist  pa- 
per, started  in  Worcester  in  1838  by  an  association  of  gentle- 
men. It  was  edited  by  Rev.  Cyrns  Pitt  Grosvenor,  and  print- 
ed by  EI.  J.  Howland.  After  four  years,  it  was  merged  with 
tlie  Watchman,  then  and  now  published  at  Boston. 

The  "  Sunday  School  Gazette"  was  a  semi-monthly  juvenile 
sheet,  bogun  in  1849,  and  continued  eight  years.  It  was  edited 
by  Rev.  E.  E.  Hale,  published  by  the  Unitarian  Sunday  School 
Society,  and  printed  by  H.  J.  Howland. 

The  "  Worcester  Journal  of  Medicine,"  in  connexion  witli 
the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  edited  by  Dr.  Calvin  Newton,  was 
started  Jan.  1,  1847,  and  was  printed  for  two  years  by  Samuel 
Chism ;  afterwards  by  H.  J.  Howland.  It  was  published  sev- 
eral years  up  to  Dr.  Newton's  death  in  1853. 

The  "  Friendly  Reformer"  was  a  small  four-page  sheet,  pub- 
lislied  in  1839  and  1840  by  Joseph  S.  Wall.  Its  object  was  the 
change  of  some  features  in  the  polity  of  the  Quakers,  which  to 
the  editor  seemed  objectionable. 

The  ''  Physiological  Journal"  was  a  small  sheet  devoted  to 
the  ideas  of  Dr.  Sylvester  Graham,  after  whom  the  bread  called 
"  Graham  bread,"  was  named.  It  was  edited  and  published  by 
Joseph  S.  Wall  in  1839  and  1840. 

The  "American  Pulpit"  is  the  title  of  a  monthly  octavo  pub- 
lished during  a  portion  of  the  years  1846  and  1847,  edited  by 
Rev.  R.  S.  Rust,  then  pastor  of  the  Laurel  street  (M.  E.)  Cliurcli 
in  Worcester,  and  printed  first  by  Estey  &  Evans,  and  after- 
wards by  Samuel  Chism. 

"  The  New  England  Farmer"  was  publislied  on  Saturdays  by 
John  Milton  Earle  for  one  year  from  May  22,  1847,  from  the 
Spy  office,  it  being  a  continuation  of  the  "  Bay  State  Farmer 
and  Mechanics'  Ledger"  (alluded  to  on  page  323,)  purchased 
J.  H.  Everett  &  Co.,  and  merged  in  the  Massachusetts  Spy  af- 
ter May  22,  1848. 

The  ''  Family  Visitor"  was  a  local  religious  weekly,  edited 
by  Moses  W.  Grout,  published  a  few  months  in  1832,  and  print- 
ed bv  H.  J.  Howland. 


374  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Among  the  many  advertising  sheets  publislied,  in  newspa- 
per and  other  forms,  have  been  several  series  of  a  widely  cir- 
culated weekly  paper  called  the  "  Commercial  Advertiser," 
the  first  series  of  wdiich  w^as  begun  July  4,  1865,  by  Gould  & 
Cleland,  publishing  office  at  No.  5  Brinley  Hall.  Gould  l^ 
Browning,  and  others  continued  it  a  year  or  so.  The  next 
series  was  begun  Feb.  3,  1869,  by  Snow  Brothers,  printers,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  "  Worcester  County  Advertiser,"  and  con- 
tinued some  time.  Another  series  was  begun  in  January, 
1871,  by  E.  Adams,  and  continued  by  him,  Adams  &,  Corbin, 
and  others  to  Feb.  3,  1873.  The  first  series  were  printed  by 
Charles  Hamilton,  and  the  last  by  E.  R.  Fiske. 

There  was  a  weekly  devoted  to  the  liquor  interest,  called  the 
"  Liberty  op  the  Press,"  published  in  1848,  by  Peter  Johnson, 
and  edited  by  Jubal  Harrington  and  others,  and  printed  in  a 
barn  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Foster  street  depot.  We 
have  not  been  able  to  find  a  copy  of  this  peculiar  publication. 
Its  influence  culminated  in  the  attempt  to  blow  up  the  office  of 
the  mayor  and  the  dwelling  of  the  city  marshal,  and  in  various 
personal  assaults  on  representative  temperance  men  of  the  city. 
It  died  as  it  deserved  to  die,  and  has  left  no  name  behind. 

The  first  number  of  the  "  Daily  Tribune"  was  printed  Nov. 
14,  1849,  published  by  Adams  &  Co.,  at  the  north  corner  of 
Main  and  Pleasant  streets.  Jan.  7,  1850,  J.  Addison  Allen  & 
Co.  became  the  publishers,  and  April  1,  the  office  was  removed 
to  Pearl  street,  in  the  building,  wdiere  Moses  Spooner  for  sev- 
eral years  operated  his  power  press.  C.  Buckingham  Webb 
w^as  editor  till  May,  1850,  after  him  A.  L.  Perry  became  editor 
the  remainder  of  the  year.  March  22,  1851,  Allen  &  Co.  sold 
out  the  establishment  to  J.  Burrill  &  Co.,  who  on  its  basis  be- 
gan the  publication  of  the  second  "  Daily  Transcript,"  (alluded 
to  on  page  324,)  April  1. 

A  third  "  Worcester  Daily  Journal"  having  no  connection 
Avith  the  previous  series,  (mentioned  on  pages  325  and  326,) 
was  started  Nov.  10,  1871,  by  Sidney  A.  Gaylor,  and  printed  a 
few  weeks.  It  was  a  small  double  sheet  in  octavo  form.  He 
had  previously  printed  a  weekly  from  July  21,  1871. 


Reminiscences  of    Wo7'cesier.  375 

The  first  number  of  the  daily  "  Evening  Budget,"  by  Peter 
L.  Cox,  in  the  Central  Exchange,  was  printed  Jan.  1,  1847. 
Soon  after  its  discontinuance,  in  May  following,  the  "  Worces- 
ter Daily  Telegraph,"  was  issued  from  the  same  office  and  was 
published  by  Clark,  Cox  &  Co.,  and  afterwards  continued  by 
Clark,  Cushing  &  Gerrish,  to  March  15,  1849,  soon  after  which 
the  second  "  Daily  Transcript"  was  started,  in  which  it  was 
probably  merged.  Julius  L.  Clark  was  editor  of  the  "  Tele- 
graph," as  he  was  afterwards  of  the  "  Transcript,"  (see  p.  324.) 

Three  numbers  of  a  bitterly  sarcastic  sheet,  particularly 
antagonistic  to  the  political  acts  of  the  first  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln, 
a  staunch  democrat,  was  printed  July  26,  Aug.  2,  and  Aug.  9, 
1809.     It  was  a  small  quarto,  and  was  called  "The  Scorpion." 

The  "  Worcester  Daily  Sun,"  published  by  the  "  Sun  Pub- 
lishing Company,"  was  printed  eight  days,  Oct.  18,  23,  25,  2i), 
27,  28,  and  30,  and  Nov.  1,  1869,  and  then  became  suddenly 
extinguished. 

Street  and  Dummy  Railways. 

The  Worcester  Horse  Railroad  was  first  opened  to  public 
travel  from  Lincoln  Square  to  New  Worcester,  Aug.  31,  1863, 
the  occasion  being  celebrated  on  that  day  by  an  excursion  to 
the  then  "  Webster  Park,"  at  New  Worcester,  a  beautiful  grove 
on  the  grounds  of  Loring  Goes,  Esq.  Here  there  was  a  public 
dinner,  with  speeches  by  the  president,  James  B,  Blake,  Mayor 
D.  Waldo  Lincoln,  Ex-Mayors  Alexander  H.  Bullock,  Isaac 
Davis,  Henry  Chapin,  P.  Emory  Aldricli,  George  W.  Richard- 
son and  W.  W.  Rice,  Capt.  Ephraim  Mower,  Charles  T.  Crom- 
well of  New  York,  and  others. 

The  Worcester  and  Shrewsbury  Railroad  was  first  opened  to 
public  travel  from  Washington  Square  to  Lake  Quinsigamond, 
three  miles,  Aug.  1,  1873,  from  which  time  to  Aug.  1,  1877,  it 
is  estimated  that  over  400,000  passengers  were  carried  over  it. 
Hon.  E.  B.  Stoddard  has  been  president  of  the  road  from  the 
beginning,  and  Richard  Barker  superintendent  for  the  last 
three  years. 


376  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Old  South  Church. 
The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mighill,  whose  vacation  from  his  pastor- 
ate of  the  first  parish  (Old  South)  Church  was  alluded  to  on 
page  125,  having  subsequently  resigned  on  account  of  his  con- 
tinued ill-health,  the  Rev.  Louis  Bevier  Yoorhees,  who  had 
supplied  the  pulpit  with  much  acceptance  up  to  that  time,  was 
called  to  the  position  with  great  unanimity  by  both  churcli  and 
parish,  and  installed  as  the  thirteenth  pastor  of  that  ancient 
church,  June  15,  1877,  with  the  following  exercises: 

Introductory  prayer  hj  Eev.  A.  H.  CooHdge  of  Leicester  ;  reading  of 
Scriptures  hy  Rev.  E.  Porter  Dyer  of  Shrewsbury  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  A.  J.  F. 
Behrends,  D.  D.,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  from  Rom.  12  :  1,  2;  prayer  of  in- 
stallation by  Rev.  George  H.  Gould,  D.  D.,  late  of  the  Piedmont  Church, 
Worcester ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  E.  Porter  Dyer  of  Shrewsbury, 
moderator  of  the  council;  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Withrow,  D.  D.,  of  Boston, 
who  had  been  assigned  to  take  this  part,  not  being  present ;  right  hand  of 
fellowship  by  C.  M.  Lamson  of  Salem  street  Congregational  Church,  AVor- 
cester  ;  charge  to  the  people  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Means,  D.  D.,  of  Dorchester  ; 
concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  George  W.  Phillips  of  Plymouth  Church,  Wor- 
cester. 

The  new  pastor.  Rev.  L.  B.  Voorhees,  was  born  in  Rocky 
Hill,  N.  J.,  June  10,  181:7  ;  graduated  at  Princeton  College  in 
1868  ;  studied  one  year  in  the  theological  seminary  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  after  that 
two  years  at  Andover  (Mass.)  Tlieological  Seminary,  graduat- 
ing in  1871.  He  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Pilgrim  Church 
at  Nortli  Weymouth,  Mass.,  Dec.  6,  1871,  and  dismissed  by 
council,  June  7,  1876,  having  resigned  his  charge  there  against 
the  unanimous  wishes  of  the  church,  in  order  to  enter  upon  a 
more  enlarged  field  of  labor  and  influence.  Alter  leaving 
North  Weymouth,  he  made  a  visit  to  Europe. 

Executions  in  Worcester. 
As  Worcester  has  always  been  the  seat  of  the  Courts  of  Jus- 
tice in  the  county,  all  the  executions  of  malefactors  for  high 
crimes  and  misdemeanors,  committed  within  the  county,  since 
its  organization  in  1731,  have  taken  place  here.  They  have 
been  as  follows,  comprising  eighteen  individuals  at  thirteen  dif- 
ferent times,  one  of  tliem  a  female,  four  of  them  on  one  occa- 
sion, and  two  at  one  time  on  two  occasions.  Ten  were  executed 
for   murder,  five  for  burglary  and  three  for  rape.     Different 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  377 

days  of  the  week  wore  selected,  tlie   taking  of  Friday  being  a 
comparatively  modern  usage. 

In  1737,  Tuesday,  Nov.  26,  Hugh  Henderson,  alias  John 
Hamilton,  for  burglary. 

In  1745,  Jeffrey,  a  negro,  for  murder  of  his  mistress. 

In  1768,  Tliursday,  Oct.  20,  Arthur,  a  negro,  for  rape.  Tlie 
execution  sermon  was  by  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,  upon  the 
theme — "  The  power  and  grace  of  Christ  displayed  to  a  dying 
malefactor." 

In  1770,  Thursday,  Oct.  25,  William  Lindsey,  for  burglary. 
Before  the  execution,  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Thad- 
deus Maccarty  of  the  Old  South  Church,  upon  the  tlieme,  "  the 
most  heinous  sinner  capable  of  the  saving  blessings  of  the 
gospel." 

In  1778,  Thursday,  July  2,  William  Brooks,  James  Buchanan, 
Ezra  Ross  and  Bathsheba  Spooner,  for  the  murder  of  Joshua 
Spooner  of  Brookfield,  husband  of  the  woman.  Sermon  by 
Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty,  from  Dent.  19  :  13,  ''  Thine  eye 
shall  not  })ity  him,  but  thou  shalt  put  away  the  guilt  of  inno- 
cent blood  from  Israel,  that  it  may  go  well  with  tliee."  It  is 
said  that  the  unfortunate  woman  rode  to  the  place  of  her 
execution  in  the  chaise  with  Mr.  Maccarty.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Brigadier  Ruggles  of  Hardwick,  and  a  sister  of  the  first 
Dr.  John  Green's  second  wife,  and  was  buried  in  the  garden 
back  of  the  old  Green  mansion  on  Green  hill. 

In  1779,  Thursday,  Nov.  11,  Robert  Young,  for  rape  on  a 
young  girl  11  years  old  named  Jane  Young,  at  Brookfield. 

In  1783,Thursday,  June  19,  William  Huggins  and  John  Mans- 
field for  burglary. 

In  1786,  Wednesday,  Aug.  16,  Johnson  Green  for  burglary. 

In  1793,  Thursday,  Oct.  31,  Samuel  Frost  for  the  murder  of 
Elisha  Allen  of  Princeton,  the  execution  taking  place  on  the 
hill,  where  the  old  State  Lunatic  Hospital  now  stands,  subse- 
quently called  '^  Frost  Hill."  Before  the  execution,  according 
to  the  ancient  custom,  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Aaron  Bancroft,  at  his  church,  the  criminal  being  present. 
50 


378  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

In  1825,  Wednesday,  Dec.  7,  Horace  Carter  of  Worcester  for 
rape,  the  execution  taking  place  upon  the  hill  on  the  nortli 
corner  of  Belmont  street  and  Lincoln  Square. 

In  1845,  Friday,  Jan.  3,  Thos.  Barrett  of  Lunenburg,  for  the 
murder  of  ^h's.  Ruth  Houghton  of  Lunenburg,  the  execution 
for  the  first  time  being  a  private  one,  at  the  jail,  only  fourteen 
persons  being  admitted. 

In  1868,  Friday,  Sept.  25,  Silas  and  Charles  T.  James  of 
Rhode  Island,  for  the  murder  of  Joseph  G.  Clark  ;  execution 
at  the  jail.  They  were  attended  at  the  gallows  by  the  jail 
chaplain.  Rev.  R.  R.  Shippen,  who  performed  religious  service 
but  did  not  stay  to  witness  the  execution. 

In  1876,  Friday,  May  25,  Samuel  J.  Frost  of  Petersham,  for 
the  murder  of  his  wife's  brother,  Frank  P.  Towne  ;  at  the  jail. 
.  Rev.  C.  M.  Lamson  of  the  Salem  Street  Congregational  Cliurch, 
offered  prayer  at  the  gallows. 

Building  Operations,  &c. 

The  extent  of  building  operations  in  Worcester  within   the 
last  ten  years  is  much  greater  than  may   be  at  first  imagined, 
especially  considering  the  unexampled  progress  of  the   preced- 
ing fifteen  years  in  this  direction.     Tlie  most  extensive  build- 
ing enterprise  of  any  period  here  is  the  new  State   Lunatic 
Hospital,  not  yet  completed,  which  comprises  a  series  of  struct- 
ures from  four  to  five  stories  in   height,  having   a   frontage   in 
all  of  nearly  twelve  hundred  feet,  eighteen  million  brick  being 
massed  therein.     Its  cost  will  come  up  to  ^1,250,000.     The 
next  largest  enterprise  is  the  new  Union   depot,  finished  in 
1875,  which  cost  three  quarters  of  a  million  ;  and  then  there  is 
the  viaduct,  not  exactly  coming  under   the   head  of  what  are 
usually  called  "  buildings,"  the   cost  of  which  was  some  over  a 
quarter  of  a   million.     In   the   matter  of  school  houses,  those 
built  during  the  first  five  of  the  last  ten  years  cost  over  half  a 
million.     The  numerous  elegant  and  costly   church   structures 
built  within  the  last  ten  years,  which  are  the  pride  and  orna- 
ment of  the  city,  costing  from  ^50,000  to  $250,000  each,  (the 
most  expensive  of  these  being  St.  Paul's,  All  Saints',  Piedmont, 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  370 

Plymouth,  Trinity,  Grace  and  Universalist,  built  since  1870,) 
add  some  three  quarters  of  a  million  to  these  expenditures. 
Many  extensive  buildings  for  business  purposes,  have  also  been 
erected  within  the  last  few  years,  adding  a  million  and  a  half, 
probably,  to  the  sum.  The  most  extensive  structures  under 
the  latter  head,  are  the  buildings  erected  by  Hon.  Stephen 
Salisbury  for  the  Ames  Plow  Works,  and  those  just  built  by 
him  and  his  son  on  the  site  of  the  recent  Court  Mills.  These 
all  foot  up  the  gross  total  of  $3,500,000,  including  the  nu- 
merous and  costly  and  palatial  dwellings  of  our  citizens. 

This  is  in  marked  contrast  with  the  state  of  things  fifty  years 
ago,  when  the  valuation  of  all  the  churches,  scliool-houses  and 
other  public  buildings  then  standing  would  not  exceed  $50,000. 

During  the  month  of  July,  1877,  the  ancient  dwelling  of 
Judge  William  Jennison,  alluded  to  on  pages  5'd  and  57,  which 
was  removed  from  its  original  site  in  1846,  was  torn  down.  It 
had  stood  for  the  last  thirty-one  years  on  the  south  west  corner 
of  Exchange  and  Blackstone  streets,  a  conspicuous  monument 
of  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  owned  for  the  last  fourteen  years 
by  Francis  Flynn.  Its  huge  timbers  of  oak,  pine  and  chestnut 
were  found  so  sound,  that  Mr.  Flynn  worked  them  into  the 
new  structure,  just  erected  by  him  upon  tiie  same  site,  so  that 
the  historic  edifice  is  still  perpetuated.  The  rear  part  of  the 
old  structure  bore  the  marks  where  the  ancient  ell,  first  used 
for  a  county  jail,  had  been  attaclied  to  it,  and  in  wliich  the  first 
prisoners  in  the  county  were  for  a  rhort  time  confined,  (see 
page  226.) 

In  the  cut  of  the  old  Court  House  and  its  surroundings  on 
Court  Hill  in  1802,  will  be  noted  the  little  square  one-story 
building  just  south  of  the  Court  House  and  north  of  Isaiah 
Thomas'  residence,  which  Mr.  Thomas  used  for  his  counting- 
room  and  business  office,  after  he  had  retired  from  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Spy,  the  office  of  which  was  on  the  sonth  side  of 
his  residence.  This  little  square  building  was  about  1838  pur- 
chased by  the  proprietors  of  the  Rural  Cemetery,  and  moved 
to  its  present  location  nearly  o{)posite  the  front  entrance  to  the 
cemetery.     An  additional  (French  roof)  story  has  been   added 


380  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

to  the  structure,  and  it  lias  been  for  several  years  the  residence 
of  John  P.  Stockwell,  superintendent  of  the  cemetery  grounds. 

There  was  an  Elisha  Smitli  hero  as  early  as  1740,  (it  maybe 
a  son  or  connection  of  tlie  John  Smith  bore  about  ten  years 
earlier,)  who  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town  in  the  neighborhood  of  wiiat  is  now  the 
"North  Worcester"  station  on  the  Boston,  Barre  and  Gardner 
Railroad,  the  old  farm  house  in  which  he  resided  being  the 
very  ancient  dwelling  on  Holden  street,  near  the  depot,  for 
many  years  past  owned  and  occupied  by  J.  L.  Libby.  This  is 
one  of  the  oldest  farm  houses  in  the  city.  This  Smith  had  a 
son  Elisha,  Jr.,  and  the  latter  had  a  son  Elisha,  who  built 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  the  farm  house  afterwards 
owned  and  occupied  by  Walter  H.  Davis  and  Wm.  F.  Wheeler. 
The  original  Smith  house  was  subsequently  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  Benjamin  Thaxter,  from  about  1785. 

Since  the  reference  was  made  on  page  274  to  the  old  "  Ex- 
change Hotel,"  the  remaining  portion  of  it  (comprising  prob- 
ably the  part  first  built  in  1784,)  comprising  a  frontage  of  about 
60  feet  on  Main  street,  has  been  sold  (Sept.  1,  1877)  to  E.  L. 
Kennen,  wdio  will  continue  it  as  a  hotel,  for  which  purpose  it  is 
being  refitted. 

William  Elder,  who  headed  the  noted  list  of  fifty-two  tory 
protesters  against  the  patriotic  movements  of  1774  in  Worces- 
ter, (see  page  85,)  resided  on  the  north  side  of  Webster  street, 
between  Hope  Cemetery  and  Trowbridgeville,  where  he  died 
July  27,  1786,  aged  79.  The  cellar  hole  of  the  old  residence 
still  remains.  He  had  a  brother  John,  (also  on  that  tory  list 
of  1774,)  who  resided  on  Pakachoag  hill  on  the  estate  after- 
wards owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Nathaniel  Elder,  and  for 
many  years  past  by  A.  W.  Ward. 

Hon.  Edward  Earle,  (referred  to  on  pages  63  and  64,)  de- 
ceased May  25,  1877. 

The  venerable  John  Goulding,  (see  page  52,)  born  Dec.  21, 
1791,  died  June  22,  1877. 

Wm.  Curtis,  sec  page  38,  died  Jan.  15,  1877. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  381 

The  Duncan  Family. 

Simeon  Duncan,  (great-grandfather  of  the  present  William 
Duncan,  machinist  and  engineer,  of  Worcester,)  died  June  19, 
1781,  on  the  original  homestead  estate  of  the  family  in  Auburn, 
(formerly  included  in  Worcester,)  for  one  hundred  years  past 
owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  S.  Clark  and  his  .ancestors. 
This  Simeon  Duncan,  by  his  wife  Bridget  Duncan,  who  died 
April  4,  1807,  liad  nine  children  :  1,  Jonas  Duncan,  born 
Jan.  13,  1745,  died  Aug.  3,  1773  ;  Samuel,  born  Jan.  9,  1747, 
died  July  28,  1820,  at  Dummerston,  Vt.  ;  Jason,  born  Dec. 
30,  1749,  died  in  1837,  at  Dummerston,  Vt.,  where  he  had  been 
judge  of  probate  ;  4,  Rebecca,  born  April  23, 1753  ;  5,  Simeon, 
Jr.,  captain,  born  Oct.  23,  1755,  died  Feb.  23,  1836,  a  cooper, 
lived  on  Mechanic  street,  and  married  Mary  Blair,  sister  of 
Robert  Blair,  and  aunt  of  Mrs.  Gen.  Thomas  Chamberlain, 
Mrs.  Henry  Rogers,  and  Mrs.  Cyrus  Stockwell  ;  6,  Joanna,  born 
Feb.  8,  1758,  married  a  Stearns,  and  resided  elsewhere  ;  7, 
Persis,  born  Nov.  8,  1760,  married  Samuel  Fullerton,  and  re- 
sided in  an  ancient  dwelling  which  stood  on  the  site  of  J.  E. 
Bacon's  present  block  on  Lincoln  street,  where  their  daughter, 
Mrs.  Sewell  Hamilton,  now  a  nonogenarian,  was  born  ;  8,  Sarah, 
born  Oct.  4,  1763,  married  a  French,  and  resided  elsewhere  ; 
9,  Azubah,  born  May  20,  1766,  married  John  Gleason,  they  be- 
ing parents  of  the  late  Austin  Gleason,  and  of  Mrs.  Stephen 
Taft. 

Capt.  Simeon  and  Mary  (Blair)  Duncan  had  ten  children  : 
1,  Charles,  born  in  1781,  died  in  Warren  ;  2,  Mary,  born  in 
1783,  and  died  March  14,  1872,  married  Nathaniel  Eaton, 
keeper  of  "  The  Elephant"  hotel  on  Front  street,*  who  died 
Jan.  30,  1833,  aged  51 ;  3,  Simeon,  3d, born  in  1785,  died  about 
1870  in  Boston ;  4,  Sally,  born  in  1788,  died  in  Lunenburg, 
Vermont ;  5,  Nancy,  born  in  1791,  widow  of  the  late  Benjamin 
Thayer,  and  mother  of  the  present  Benjamin  Thayer  ;  6,  Jason, 
born  in  1793,  resided  on  the  estate  on  Lincoln  street,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Andrew  J.  Duncan  ;  7,  Joseph 

*  This  name  was  given  to  that  hotel,  which  stood  about  on  the  site  of  the 
present  "  Waverly  House,"  on  account  of  it.^  having  the  figure  of  a  huge  ele- 
phant on  its  swinging  sign  in  front. 


382  Bemi7iiscences  of  Worcester. 

B.,  born  in  1797,  went  to  Grafton  ;  8,  Eliza,  born  Sept.  27, 
1800,  resides  in  Worcester.  The  other  two,  Clarissa  and  Wil- 
liam, born  in  1802  and  1805,  died  yonng. 

There  was  a  John  Duncan,  (Scotch-Presbyterian  emigrant,) 
here,  at  the  first  organization  of  the  town,  (see  pages  41  and 
128,)  who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  the  first  Gershom 
Rice,  and  they  may  be  and  most  likely  were  parents  of  the  first 
Simeon,  above  mentioned.  The  Andrew  Duncan  who  married 
Dr.  Joseph  Lynde's  sister,  Sarah  Lynde,  about  1770,  (see  page 
257,)  was  of  another  branch,  the  family  connection  not  having 
been  traced. 

Robert  Barber,  one  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  emigrants  of 
1718,  (see  page  127,)  married  Sarah  Gray,  daughter  of  anoth- 
er of  those  emigrants  who  came  here  at  the  same  time,  and 
among  their  children  were  Joseph  Barber,  who  remained  on 
the  old  homestead  of  his  father  in  Northville,  where  his  grand- 
son, Wm.  T.  Barber,  now  lives  ;  James  Barber,  who  settled  on 
the  estate  farther  north  on  Brooks  street,  where  his  James  also 
lived,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Isaac  Lamb  ;  and 
Matthew  Barber,  who  settled  upon  the  estate  in  Northville  since 
owned  and  occupied  by  Thomas  Stowell,  his  son  Samuel  Stow- 
ell,  and  grandson  Frederick  T.  Stowell.  Joseph  was  father  of 
the  late  William  and  Silas  Barber,  who  resided  upon  the  origin- 
al homestead  where  William's  son,  Wm.  T.,  now  lives. 

Andrew  McFarland,  Presbyterian  emigrant  of  1718,  had  a 
son  James,  who  settled  on  the  estate  of  his  father,  near  Tat- 
nuck,  and  a  son  William  who  settled  on  the  estate  on  the  east 
side  of  the  old  Rutland  road,  Salisbury  street,  just  beyond 
Flagg  street,  where  his  son,  William  McFarland,  Jr.  also  lived 
and  died.  James  McFarland  who  married  a  daughter  of  Asa 
Moore,  had  (among  other  children)  a  son  James,  father  of  the 
late  Ira  McFarland.  The  two  James  McFarlands  and  Ira  were 
all  born  and  died  on  the  old  ancestral  estate  still  in  the  family. 

Robert  Blair,  another  of  these  Presbyterian  emigrants,  who 
settled  on  the  estate  next  west  of  the  preceding,  (seepage  127,) 
had  a  son  Joseph,  the  latter  a  son  Robert,  and  the  latter  a  son 
Charles,  all  of  whom  lived  and  died  upon  the  old  homestead. 


Reminiscences   of  Worcester.  383 

Burial  Places. 

In  addition  to  what  is  related  in  the  chapter  on  Burial 
Grounds,  it  may  be  stated  tliat  tlie  town  between  1832  and 
1835,  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  last  previously  purchased 
burial  place  on  Pine  street,  in  the  effort  to  provide  sufficiently 
for  the  future,  purchased  23  1-2  acres  for  burial  purposes,  one 
of  them  a  lot  of  twenty  acres  or  more  on  Pleasant  street,  com- 
prising the  main  part  of  what  was  afterwards  purchased  by 
Wm.  A.  Wheeler,  and  subsequently  by  Joseph  Mason  and  F. 
H.  Dewey,  Esqs.,  and  divided  by  them  into  building  lots.  The 
other  burial  place  purchased  was  a  lot  of  six  or  seven  acres  on 
Cambridge  street,  on  the  opposite  side  from  the  Catholic  Cem- 
etery. This  last  lot,  which  was  situated  between  the  railroad 
bridge  and  what  was  then  a  pine  grove,  was  owned  by  the  city 
until  1864.  The  lot  on  Pleasant  street  was  sold  again  before 
any  burials  had  been  made  ;  in  tliat  on  Cambridge  street  quite 
a  number  were  buried,  and  the  bodies,  (including  that  of  John 
Boyce,  father  of  John  F.  Boyce,)  removed  to  Hope  Cemetery. 
The  occasion  of  these  two  burial  places  being  so  soon  given  up, 
was  the  opposition  made  to  the  purcliase  of  them  at  the  time 
by  those  considered  the  most  far-seeing  into  the  wants  of  tlie 
future,  who  thought  there  were  then,  without  purchasing  any 
more  "  sufficient  accommodations  for  more  than  half  a  century 
to  come,"  little  dreaming  of  the  unprecedented  growth  of  the 
town  from  a  population  of  6,000  in  1835,  to  over  50,000  Avith- 
in  forty  years.  The  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  in  his  annual  report  as 
chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  for  1837,  thought  that  the 
retaining  of  the  28  1-2  acres  then  recently  purchased,  calculat- 
ing from  the  past,  would  afford  sufficient  room  for  graves  for 
600  years  to  come  !  and  on  the  strengtli  of  this  calculation  re- 
commended the  disuse  and  sale  of  the  same,  as  not  needed, 
especially  as  the  Hon.  Daniel  Waldo  had  then  just  purchased 
a  lot  of  about  twelve  acres  for  burial  purposes  for  such  as  chose 
to  purchase  lots,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Court  House, 
(this  being  the  fii'st  part  of  the  Rural  Cemetery.) 

Rev.  David  0.  Mears  from  Cambridge  was  installed  (July  3, 
1877)  as  pastor  of  the  Piedmont  Congregational  Church,  suc- 
ceeding Rev.  Dr.  George  H.  Gould,  (see  page  176.) 


384  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

Military. 

For  protection  against  the  Indians,  the  early  settlers  had  a 
sort  of  military  organization,  of  which  Daniel  Heywood  was 
the  first  captain,  and  the  number  of  captains,  as  seen  in  the 
titles  given  to  various  prominent  residents  during  the  first  half 
century  after  the  permanent  settlements,  was  very  numerous. 
These  organizations  were  more  for  practical  use  than  for  home 
show. 

In  1760,  there  appear  to  have  been  two  bodies  of  militia^  one 
numbering  59.  and  the  other  48,  commanded  respectively  by 
Captains  John  Johnson  and  James  Goodwin. 

A))out  1783,  tlie  first  regular  martial  association  of  the  town, 
the  famed  "  Worcester  Artillery"  organization,  was  formed,  of 
volunteers,  and  William  Treadwell,  afterwards  major,  was  its 
first  captain.     It  was  disbanded  in  1838. 

During  the  war  with  France  in  1798,  a  military  organization 
called  the  "  Independent  Cadets,"  was  formed,  with  Tiiomas 
Chandler  as  captain,  and  disbanded  after  the  difficulty  with 
France  was  settled. 

The  Worcester  Light  Infantry,  chartered  in  1804,  pai-adcd 
for  the  first  time,  at  the  annual  ^lay  training,  the  last  Wednes- 
day in  May  of  that  year,  under  Capt.  Levi  Thaxtei*.  Its  com- 
manding officers  hav(3  been  from  the  beginning  : 

Levi  Thaxter,  Enoch  Flag^,  Wm.  E.  Green,  Isaac  Sturtevant,  John  ^V . 
Lincohi,  Sevvall  Hamilton,  John  Coolidge,  Samuel  AV'ard,  Artemas  ^Vard, 
John  Whittemore,  Charles  A.  Hamilton,  Zenas  Studley,  Wm.  S.  Lincoln  and 
Chas.  H.  Geer,  to  1836.  Henry  Hobbs  and  Dana  H.  Fitch  in  1837  ;  D.  AVal- 
doLincoln  in  1838,  1839  and  1840;  Ivers  Phillips  in  1841  ;  Henry  \\\  Conk- 
lin  in  1842  ;  Joseph  B.  Ripley  in  1843  ;  Edward  Lamb,  1844  to  1848  ;  Levi 
Barker  in  1849  ;  Edward  Lamb  in  1850  and  1851;  Charles  S.  Childs  in 
1852  ;  Samuel  P.  Russell  and  Geo.  AV.  Barker,  1853-4  :  Geo.  F.Peck,  1855; 
Edward  Lamb,  1856  and  1857  ;  Harrison  AY.  Pratt,  1858  to  1862  ;  Geo.  W. 
Prouty,  1862  to  1865  :  Jas.  M.  Drennan,  to  1866  ;  Geo.  H.  Conklin,  to  1869  ; 
JoelH.  Prouty,  to  1871  ;  John  Callahan  in  1872;  John  H.  Upham  in  1873 
and  1874  ;  Levi  Lincoln  in  1875  and  1876  ;  Joseph  P.  Mason  in  1877. 

The  first  ensign  of  this  company  was  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  afterwards  gov- 
ernor, and  the  last  survivor  but  one  of  the  original  members  ;  the  last  one 
of  them  who  deceased  being  Charles  Tappan,  alluded  to  on  page  304,  who 
died  in  1876,  aged  over  90.  The  first  orderly  sergeant  and  clerk  was  Daniel 
AValdo  Lincoln,  brother  of  the  governor.  Ttie  company  had  its  first  public 
parade,  June  6,  1804,  and  July  4,  1804,  it  performed  escort  duty  at  a  cele- 
bration by  the  citizens  of  the  towm  of  AYorcester.  Its  first  anniversary  Avas 
celebrated  Oct.  5,  1804,  at  the  house  of  Dea.  Nathan  Heard,  then  keeper 
of  the  stone  jail  and  jail  tavern. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  385 

This  company,  under  command  of  Capt.  John  W.  Lincohi  and  Lieut. 
Sewall  Hamilton  and  Ensign  John  Coolidge,  marched  for  Boston  under  or- 
ders from  Gav.  Strong,  Sept.  14,  1814,  when  news  was  received  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Washington  l)y  the  British,  at  the  same  time  of  the  march  of  the 
old  "  Worcester  Artillery"  under  Capt.  Samuel  Graves,  with  Licuts.  Nathan 
Heard  and  Simeon  Hastings.  They  remained  at  South  Boston  till  Oct.  31, 
following,  just  eight  days  short  of  the  two  months  necessary  for  the  mem- 
bers to  be  afterwards  entitled  to  a  pension  from  the  government.  Edward 
D.  Bangs  was  a  sergeant  on  this  occasion. 

This  company  had  a  glorious  record  in  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion,  being 
in  the  famous  "  march  through  Baltimore,"  April  10,  18(31,  attached  to  the 
"  old  sixth"  regiment,  when  the  first  blood  was  shed,  just  eighty-six  years 
to  a  day  from  tne  shedding  of  the  Urst  blood  of  the  revolution.  The  com- 
pany was  then  commanded  by  Harrison  W.  Pratt.  They  were  afterwards  in 
the  34th  and  51st  regiments,  under  command  of  Capt.  George  W.  Prouty 
and  Lieuts.  Luther  Capron,  Jr.  and  Joel  H.  Prouty. 

Among  the  promotions  of  those  in  this  company  have  been:  Wm.  S. 
Lincoln  to  be  Lieut.  Colonel  in  1833,  Colonel  of  the  34th  volunteers  in  18G3 
•and  Brigadier  General  in  18G5  ;  Calvin  Foster,  Jr.,  (son  of  Calvin  Foster, 
senior,  one  of  the  original  members  in  1804,)  to  be  Adjutant,  Major,  Lieut. 
Colonel,  and  Colonel  of  the  old  ninth  regiment  in  1837  ;  Charles  H.  Geer, 
Charles  S.  Childs  and  Albert  H.  Foster,  Colonels  of  the  old  tenth  regiment ; 
Wm.  A.  Williams,  Lieut.  Colonel  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Boutwell  in  1851  ; 
Calvin  E.  Pratt,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  31st  New  York  volunteers  in  18G1, 
Brigadier  General  in  18G2,  wounded,  by  a  bullet  in  his  head,  and  now  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York ;  Dexter  F.  Parker  to  be  Major  in  the 
regular  army,  and  killed  in  the  service  ;  Harrison  W,  Pratt  t-o  be  Major  of 
the  34th  regiment,  and  died  in  the  service  ;  Church  Howe,  Quarter  Master 
of  the  15th  regiment,  and  aid  to  Maj.  Gen.  Sedgewick,  U.  S.  A.  in  18G2; 
Frederick  G.  Stiles  to  be  Major  of  the  42d  Mass.  volunteers  in  1862  ;  Ivers 
Phillips,  Captain  in  1841,  was  Colonel  of  the  old  ninth  regiment  in  183G  ; 
James  M.  Drennan,  Major,  Lieut.  Colonel  and  Colonel  of  the  tenth  re<j-i- 
ment  M.  V.  M.  ;  John  M.  Studley,  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  51st  Mass.  Vol".  ; 
J.  Stuart  Brown,  Adjutant  of  the  51st  Mass.  Vols,  in  18G2  ;  J.  Waldo 
Denny,  Lieutenant,  April  10,  18G1,  and  afterwards  Captain  in  the  25th 
Mass.  Vols.  ;  John  M.  Thayer,  Lieutenant  in  1842  and  1843,  has  been  U.  S. 
Senator  from  Nebraska,  and  is  now  Governor  of  that  State. 

The  Worcester  Rifle  Corps  was  started  in  1823,  and  dis- 
banded in  1835.  During  the  last  year,  fifty  volunteers  were  on 
duty. 

The  "■  Worcester  Guards''  were   organized   in   1840,    the 

name  having  been  changed  to  "  City  Guards"  after  Worcester 

became  a  city.     The  commanding  officers  have  been  : 

Capts.  George Bowen,  George  Hobbs,  Leonard  Poole,  George  B.  Conklin, 
Levi  Lincoln  Newton  and  Edwin  Eaton  to  1848  ;  Charles  W.  Longley  in 
1849;  JohnM.  Goodhue,  1850  to  1852;  George  H.  Ward,  1852  to  18G1 ; 
A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  Josiah  Picket,  and  Edwin  A.  Wood  during  the  war  ; 
Robert  H.  Chamberlain,  Joseph  A.  Titus,  Wm.  11.  King  and  E.  I.  Shumway 
from  1865  to  1877. 

George  W.  Richardson  who  was  lieutenant  during  the  first  year,  was 
promoted  colonel  by  going  on  to  Gov.  Davis'  staff  in  1841.  Samuel  H.  Leon- 
ard was  promoted  from  2d  lieut.  to  major.  It.  colonol,  colonel,  and  general. 

51 


386  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

The  part  taken  by  this  company  in  the  \var  of  the  rcbeUion, 
1861-65,  was  as  follows  : 

In  the  Third  Battahon  Rifles,  three  months;  in  the  51st  regiment,  nine 
months  :  25th  regiment,  three  years  ;  Gist  regiment,  one  year  ;  GOth  regi- 
ment, 100  days.  Its  oflficers  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  were  :  Capt. 
A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  promoted  Lieut. -Colonel  of  25th  regiment.  Colonel  of 
51st,  Colonel  of  2d  H.  A.,  Brev.  Brig.  General  ;  1st  Lieut.  Josiah  Picket, 
Captain,  and  Major  and  Colonel  of  25th,  and  Brev.  Brig.  General  ;  2d  Lieut. 
Geo.  C.  Joslin,  Captain,  Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel  of  15th  ;  3d  Lieut.  Orson 
Moulton,  Capt.  and  Lieut.  Col.  of  25th  ;  4th  Lieut.  E.  A.  Harkness,  1st 
Lieut,  and  Adjutant  of  25th  and  Major  of  51st.  Nearly  150  of  its  past  and 
active  members  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  were  in  the  union  army,  among 
whom  were  Brig.  Gen.  John  B.  Wyman,  killed  at  Vicksburg  ;  Gen.  George 
H.  Ward,  killed  at  Gettysburg  ;  Capts.  Shaw  and  Burdick,  killed  at  Fort 
"Wagner;  Lieuts.  Charles  H.  Pelton  and  Henry  Matthews,  killed  at  Cold 
Harbor  ;  and  Lieut.  Bacon,  killed  at  Chancellorsville.  One  of  the  original 
members  of  1840,  Frank  Eaton,  died  at  Andersonville,  and  several  others 
were  there,  including  the  present  captain  and  sergeant,  A.  W.  Cunningham. 
Among  those  holding  commissions  in  the  army  were  five  colonels,  eight 
lieutenant  colonels,  two  majors,  thirty  captains  and  twenty  lieutenants. 
Twenty-three  were  killed  or  died  in  the  service,  and  twenty-five  others  were 
wounded.     Seven  died  in  rebel  prisons. 

Maj.  Gen.  Geo.  Hobbs,  and  Brig.  Generals  S.  H.  Leonard,  George  II. 
Ward  and  Robert  H.  Chamberlain  of  the  Massachusetts  militia  were  from 
the  ranks  of  this  company. 

State  Guard.  A  military  home  organization  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  regular  military  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  was 
formed  in  1861,  called  the  ''Home  Guards,"  with  Col.  Ivers 
Phillips  as  captain,  and  Dana  H.  Fitch  and  John  R.  Greene  as 
lieutenants.  In  1863,  the  name  was  changed  to  State  Guard. 
During  the  last  year  of  its  existence  Dana  H.  Fitch  was  com- 
mander. 

The  company  did  good  service  at  home  during  the  war,  both  in  guard  duty 
and  as  military  escort  at  funerals  of  deceased  soldiers,  and  on  other  occa- 
sions. For  the  last  few  years  of  its  existence  it  was  not  an  active  organiza- 
tion. The  company  paraded  for  the  last  time  at  the  dedication  of  the 
soldiers'  monument,  July  15,  1875.  under  command  of  Col.  Phillips. 

Emmet  Guards.  An  organization  called  the  "Emmet 
Guards,"  was  formed  in  185*i,  composed  of  Irish  citizens,  un- 
der Michael  O'Driscoll  as  commander,  but  they  were  disband- 
ed by  Gov.  Gardner  in  1855. 

Jackson  Guards.  In  1858,  another  organization  of  similar 
composition  to  the  above  was  formed,  under  command  of  Mat- 
thew J.  ^IcCafiferty  as  captain,  succeeded  by  Michael  McCon- 
ville.  They  entered  the  service  as  a  body  in  the  "  Third  Bat- 
talion of  Rifles"  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  their  term  of  enlistment  of  three  months,  the 
organization  ceased. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  387 

Oldest  Residents  of   WoUcester. 

Israel  Rice,  born  April  5,  1789,  on  the  old  original  Gershora  Rice  home- 
stead on  Pakachoag  hill,  (see  page  42,)  is  the  oldest  male  resident  in  Wor- 
cester, and  hale,  vigorous  and  hearty,  though  in  his  89th  year.  Seventy 
years  ago,  when  a  young  man,  he  worked  for  three  years  for  Dr.  William 
Paine  on  Lincoln  street,  on  his  farm.  He  afterwards  resided  for  many  years 
in  Shrewsbury,  but  for  several  years  past  has  resided  with  his  son-in-law, 
Thomas  M.  Rogers,  in  Worcester.  He  is  son  of  Jonathan  Rice,  grandson 
of  Comfort  Rice,  great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Gershom  Rice,  and  great-great- 
grandson  of  the  original  Gershom  Rice,  (see  page  42,)  who  died  in  1761, 
aged  102,  upon  the  same  old  ancestral  spot  on  Pakachoag  hill,  where  all  his 
descendants  above  named,  including  Israel,  were  born.  Israel  Rice's  wife, 
whom  he  married  sixty-six  years  ago,  is  Charlotte,  sister  of  the  venerable 
James  Campbell,  also  of  nearly  the  same  age.  Israel  Rice  remembers  at- 
tending nearly  eighty-three  years  ago,  the  funeral  of  the  widow  of  the 
first  Benjamin  Wiser,  in  Auburn,  who  died  Dec.  14,  1794,  (see  page  215. v 
He  states  that  she  was  a  native  Indian,  her  husband  being  one  of  the  origin- 
al white  settlers. 

Gen.  Nathan  Heard,  son  of  Dca.  Nathan  Heard,  is  the  next  oldest.  Gen. 
Heard  was  born  March  25, 1790,  (see  page  228.)  He  long  ago  passed  through 
all  the  grades  of  military  promotion  from  Corporal  to  Major  General.  He 
was  second  lieutenant  of  the  company  of  Worcester  Artillery  (with  Capt. 
Samuel  Graves  and  First  Lieut.  Simeon  Hastings)  who  marched  from  Wor- 
cester for  Boston,  on  Sunday,  Sept.  14,  1814,  under  orders  from  Gov.  Caleb 
Strong,  for  the  defence  of  tfie  coast,  during  the  then  war  with  Great  Britain. 
He  was  for  a  long  time  overseer  of  the  jail  and  House  of  Correction  after  he 
had  resigned  the  position  of  jailor.  He  was  representative  in  the  General 
Court,  and  chief  engineer  of  the  Worcester  Fire  Department  from  1837  to 
1840,  and  has  occupied  other  prominent  positions.  Gen.  Heard  was  born  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Quinsigamond  Bank,  the  estate  being  after- 
wards sold  by  hi>'.  father,  Dea.  Heard,  in  1806,  to  Capt.  Peter  Slater,  who 
built  his  rope- walk  in  the  rear  of  it,  (see  page  211.) 

Benjamin  Flagg,  born  June  12,  1790,  grandson  of  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg, 
and  great-great-grandson  of  the  first  Benjamin  Flagg,  (see  page  106.) 

James  Campbell,  (son  of  James  Campbell,)  was  born  July  31,  1790,  on 
jNIechanic  street,  his  wife  (now  deceased)  being  Relief,  daughter  of  Eli 
Chapin,  (see  page  338.)  He  was  born  in  a  small  cottage  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  horse  railroad  barn  on  the  south  side  of  old  Market  street.  He 
marched  with  Lieut.  Nathan  Heard  and  Levi  Gates  in  Capt.  Graves'  com- 
pany of  artillery  for  Boston,  Sept.  14,  1814,  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  that 
the  city  of  Washington  had  been  captured  by  the  British. 

Cyrus  Lovell,  born  Nov.  2,  1790,  upon  the  old  homestead  of  his  grand- 
father, Jonathan  Lovell,  where  he  has  always  resided,  (see  page  341.) 

Levi  Gates,  farmer,  (son  of  Nathaniel  Gates,)  was  born  November,  1790, 
on  the  old  paternal  homestead  near  Tatnuck.  He  is  one  of  three  surviving 
veterans  of  the  war  of  1812  in  Worcester. 

Jonathan  Wood,  born  in  Lunenburg,  May  31,  1791,  having  now  a  twin 
brother,  Ebenezer  Wood,  residing  in  Acton,  both  hale  and  active  in  their 
86th  year.  Jonathan  Wood,  when  he  first  came  to  Worcester  in  1824.,  kept 
store  a  short  time  in  the  small  wooden  building  on  Court  Hill,  between  the 
then  two  roads,  in  Iront  of  the  Court  House,  where  Dr.  Abraham  Lincoln 
and  others  had  so  long  kept  an  apothecary  store.  He  is  the  oldest  book- 
binder in  this  section.  His  wife  is  daughter  of  Jeremiali  Stiles,  the  princi- 
pal painter  in  Worcester  seventy-five  years  ago,  brother  of  John  AV.  Stiles. 


3S8  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

Anthony  Chase,  born  in  Paxton,  June  IG,  ITDI  ;  came  to  Worcester  in 
July,  181G,  and  entered  into  mercantile  business  with  John  Milton  Earle, 
whose  sister  Lydia  he  married  ;  was  agent  of  the  Blackstone  canal  company 
for  several  years  from  1828  ;  county  treasurer  from  1831  to  18GG  ;  secretary 
of  the  old  Worcester  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  from  1832  to  1852, 
and  president  of  the  latter  since  1852. 

Charles  Richardson,  No.  7,  Everett  street,  barn  in  Sudbury,  Oct.  10, 
1791 ;  has  resided  in  Worcester  since  1855. 

Rev.  George  Allen,  born  Feb.  1,  1792,  upon  the  then  residence  of  his 
father,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  on  the  north  corner  of  Main  and  School  streets, 
where  his  brothers  Samuel  and  Charles  were  also  born,  (see  page  349.) 

Charles  Staples,  No.  51  Thomas  street,  machinist,  was  born  in  Mendon, 
Nov.  IG,  1793,  son  of  Simeon  Staples.     Came  here  in  183G. 

Ephraim  Beamax,  No.  1  Crown  street,  farmer,  was  born  in  Princeton, 
July  3,  1793. 

Samuel  D.  Barker,  born  in  Arundill,  Me.,  Sept.  2,  1793,  fifty  years  ago 
kept  a  hotel,  and  was  auctioneer  in  Leicester,  and  has  since  been  hatter  in 
Worcester  for  over  forty  years. 

Capt.  Erastus  Tucker,  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Oct.  3,  1793  ;  came  to  Wor- 
cester in  1813,  (see  page  359.) 

Micah  Holbrook,  born  in  Princeton,  August  15,  1794. 

John  Chollar,  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  Aug.  3,  1795,  blacksmith,  been 
here  about  twenty  years. 

Dea.  Uriah  Stone,  a  farmer,  born  in  Oxford,  June  15,  1795  ;  has  resided 
at  New  Worcester  since  1812,  where  he  kept  hotel  for  several  years,  (see 
page  39.) 

W^iLLiAM  Whipple  Patch,  miller,  born  January,  1795,  on  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  father,  Joseph  Patch,  on  May  street,  who  was  son  of  Nathan 
Patch,  (see  page  274.) 

Benjamin  C.  Cross,  72  Woodland  street,  mechanic,  was  born  in  Charles- 
town,  R.  I.,  May  19,  1795.     Has  been  in  Worcester  thirty  years. 

Robert  W.  Flagg,  carpenter,  born  in  Grafton,  Feb.  28,  1795  ;  has  resided 
in  Worcester  eighteen  years. 

Dea.  Samuel  Perry,  farmer,  born  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and 
grandfather  on  Vernon  street,  Nov.,  179G,  (see  page  109.) 

John  Goodwin,  shoe-maker,  born  in  Holden,  October,  179G  ;  came  to 
Worcester  thirty-eight  years  ago ;  kept  a  boot  and  shoe  store  many  years  in 
the  building  now  owned  by  him,  opposite  the  Centre  Church. 

Daniel  Smith,  38  Hermon  street,  was  born  in  Middleborough,  December 
1,  179G  ;  was  twelve  years  provision  dealer  in  New  Bedford  ;  twenty-six 
years  farmer  in  Rutland  ;  been  in  AVorcester  since  1872. 

Daniel  Goddard,  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Feb.  11,  1796,  (see  page  35G.) 

Area  Reed,  farmer.  No.  174  Austin  street,  was  born  in  Royalston,  April 
10,  179G  ;  been  in  Worcester  since  1833.  His  father,  Nathan  Reed,  was  son 
of  Dea.  Jonas  Reed  of  Rutland. 

Benjamin  H.  Brewer,  machinist,  No.  53  Summer  street,  was  born  in 
Spencer,  Dec.  14,  1796  ;  has  resided  in  Worcester  since  1825. 

Aaron  Wingate,  No.  179  Pleasant  street,  farmer,  was  born  in  Madbury, 
N.  H.,  Dec.  21,  1796  ;  has  been  here  thirteen  years.  He  has  a  brother 
Stephen,  twelve  years  older,  (93,)  residing  in  Illinois. 

Absalom  Cutting,  No.  7  AVebster  street,  railroid-man,  was  born  in  Leices- 
ter, Oct.  28,  1796,  san  of  Capt.  Darius  Cutting. 


Reminiscences  of    Worcester.  389 

Berzal'da  Butler,  mechanic,  (son  of  Benjamin  Butler,)  was  born  in  Ash- 
ford,  Ct.,  Aug.  12,  1797,  and  has  resided  in  Worcester  twenty-five  years. 

Elisha  Wheeler,  shoe-maker,  born  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  Nov.  18,  1797  ; 
came  to  Worcester  sixty  years  ago. 

Sanford  M.  AVoodcociv,  No.  37  Barchiy  street,  card  setter,  was  born  in 
Ruthmd,  Nov.  21,  1707,  and  came  to  Worcester  over  thirty  years  ago,  from 
Leicester. 

Jacob  Reed,  stone  cutter,  son  of  Abel  Reed,  was  born  in  Sudbury,  Oct.  1, 
1797  ;  came  to  Worcester  in  1855. 

Aaron  White,  No.  121,  Thomas  street,  born  in  Langdon,  N.  II.,  Oct.  IG, 
1797,  wheelwright  by  trade,  came  to  Worcester  from  Attleborough  nearly 
fifty  years  ago,  and  drove  stage  to  Providence  for  over  thirty  years  till  the 
opening  of  the  railroad,  alternating  as  driver  with  Anson  Johnson. 

Lemuel  Grover,  No.  G8  Orange  street,  was  born  in  AVarren,  Nov.  14. 
1797,  has  been  here  thirty-five  years,  father  of  the  late  John  Grover,  rail- 
road-man. 

Charles  IIadwen,  born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  Jan.  4,  1797,  was  in  mer- 
cantile and  manufacturing  business  in  Providence  ;  C'lme  to  AVorcester  in 
1834,  and  purchased  the  farm  (previously  of  Wing  Kelley)  on  IIadwen  Lane,- 
upon  which  he  has  since  resided. 

Lowell  Rawson,  farmer,  29  Glen  street,  born  in  Jamaica,  A^t.,  Alay  9, 
1797  ;  has  resided  here  four  years. 

Charles  Stiles,  son  of  Jeremiah  Stiles,  was  born  Jan.  IG,  1798,  in  the 
old  Dr.  John  Green  wooden  dwelling  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Five  Cents  Savings  Bank,  just  north  of  the  Green  brick  mansion.  He  is 
father  of  Major  Frederick  G.  Stiles. 

James  Fuller,  born  in  Savoy,  August  4,  1798  :  machinist,  came  to  AVor- 
cester  in  184G,  and  worked  first  for  Howe  &  Goddard,  founders  of  ihe  pres- 
ent establishment  of  Rice,  Baiton  &  Fales. 

James  White,  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  Feb.  5,  1798.  He  is  a  carpenter 
and  builder,  well-to-do  in  the  world,  and  satisfied  with  his  pecuniary  success. 
At  the  age  of  79,  he  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  at  work  superintendino-  the 
erection  of  one  of  the  largest  blocks  in  the  city.  He  was  superintendent  of 
construction  of  the  Union  depot,  and  of  the  Technical  school,  and  many 
other  large  buildings  in  this  city.  He  came  here  from  Danielsjnville,  Ct., 
in  1824,  to  work  for  AVm.  B.  Fox,  woolen  manufacturer,  and  was  afterwards 
in  company  with  him. 

Lek  Sfrague,  born  in  East  Douglas,  in  February,  1798. 

IIox.  Stephen  Salisbury,  LL.D.,  born  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father 
•'  Salisbury  Mansion,"  March  7,  1798,  (see  page  255.) 

Sewell  Rice,  born  Nov.  3,  1798,  is  great-great- grandson  of  the  orio-inal 
Jonas  Rice,  the  first  permanent  settler  in  AVorcester,  (see  page  40,)  whose 
son  Adonijah  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Worcester,  their  descendant 
Sewell  being  born  in  the  same  house. 

Joseph  Pratt,  No.  12  Benefit  street,  born  in  Orford,  N.  H.,  Jan.  3,  1798 
carried  on  tailoring  business  on  Leicester  hill  till  about  1848,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  Worcester. 

John  F.  Boyce,  farmer,  born  in  Rutland,  November  12,  ]798,  came  to 
AA^orcester  in  1819  with  his  father,  John  Boyce,  and  settled  on  his  present 
estate  on  Webster  street,  near  Auburn  line,  then  purchased  of  Joel  Bixby, 
it  being  the  same  farm  previously  owned  by  Josepn  Clark,  great-grandfather 
of  Joseph  S.  Clark,  before  he  purchased  the  farm  previously  of  the  first 
Simeon  Duncan^  on  the  other  side  of  the  present  Auburn  line. 

Jacob  P.  Weixler,  basket-maker,  born  in  Germany,  Nov.  8,  1798. 


390  Reminiscences  of    Worcester. 

John  Mulcaiiv,  No.  7,  Webster  street,  born  in  Ireland,  June  21,  1798. 
Came  to  AVorcester  fifty  years  ago. 

Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  LL.D.,  born  inNorthboro',  June  7,  1799;  cameherein 
1821  ;  studied  law  with  his  uncle,  Gov.  John  Davis  ;  was  mayor  of  Worcester 
in  1857,  1859  and  18G1  ;  senator  in  1854  ;  executive  councillor  in  1851-52  ; 
democratic  candidate  for  governor  in  1845  ;  and  has  been  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Worcester  Academy  for  forty  years  from  its  foundation 
in  1834  to  1874. 

Joseph  Pratt,  born  in  Milford,  January, 1799,  came  to  Worcester  in  1825, 
had  a  blacksmith  shop  till  1829  on  the  site  of  the  Wheeler  foundry  on 
Thomas  street,  and  has  ever  since  been  in  the  iron  and  steel  trade  at  his  pres- 
ent location  on  Washington  Square. 

Dea.  Jonas  M.  Miles,  born  in  Shrewsbury,  June  7,  1799  ;  was  deacon  of 
the  old  church  in  Shrewsbury  from  1829  to  1845,  and  of  the  Old  South 
Church  in  Worcester  from  1845  to  1859.  He  is  father  of  the  late  Mayor 
Eugene  T.  Miles  of  Fitchburg. 

Asa  L.  Abbott,  mechanic,  No.  100  Summer  street,  born  in  Dublin,  N.  H., 
April  10,  1799,  removed  to  Brookfield,  Vt. ;  has  resided  in  Worcester  since 
1870. 

Hiram  Gorham,  brick  mason,  was  born  in  Hardwick.  Aug.  30,  1799,  first 
came  to  Worcester  in  1823,  and  worked  for  Col.  Peter  Kendall  and  Timothy 
W.  Bancroft,  builders,  on  the  first  half  of  Goddard's  Row,  then  erected,  and 
also  on  the  Centre  Church,  built  the  same  year. 

Darius  Rice,  born  in  July,  1800,  son  of  Darius  and  Anna  (Stevens)  Rice, 
and  great-great-grandson  of  the  original  Gershom  Rice  from  Sudbury,  the 
second  permanent  settler  in  Worcester,  (see  page  42,)  whose  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Haynes)  Balcom  of  Charlestown. 
Darius  Rice  and  John  B.  Pratt,  both  practical  farmers  of  considerably  more 
than  fifty  years'  experience,  were  the  twoearliest  to  bring  milk  and  vegetable 
products  to  market  among  the  citizens  of  the  central  village,  nearly  fifty 
years  ago. 

John  Winter,  78  Thomas  street,  lobster  dealer,  was  born  in  New  Castle- 
upon-Tyne,  England,  Aug.  4,  1800  ;  been  in  Worcester  twenty  years. 

Capt.  Salmon  Putnam,  carpenter,  born  in  Sutton,  Dec.  27,  1800,  has  re- 
sided in  Worcester  thirt}''  years.     Now  farmer  in  Holden. 

George  Brown,  farmer.  Fowler  street,  born  May  5,  1800. 

Halsey  Hill,  wool-carder.  No.  23  Webster  street,  was  born  in  Mendon, 
Jan.  1,  1800  ;  came  to  Worcester  forty  years  ago,  and  first  worked  for  Wm. 
B.  Fox,  and  then  for  L.  Capron  and  N.  R.  Parkhurst  at  the  present  Curtis 
&  Marble  factory  on  Webster  street. 

Henry  W.  Miller,  born  in  Westminster,  Sept.  9,  1800,  came  to  Wor- 
cester with  his  father,  John  Miller,  in  1804,  (see  page  2G0)  ;  apprentice  to 
the  second  Daniel  Waldo,  whom  he  succeeded  in  the  hardware  business  in 
1822,  having  ever  since  remained  on  the  same  location. 

James  Redican,  umbrella-maker,  38  Hermon  street,  was  born  in  Sligo 
County,  Ireland,  Feb.  2,  1800  ;  came  to  Worcester  twenty-eight  years  ago. 

SoDTHWoRTH  A.  HowLAND,  bom  in  West  Brookfield,  Sept.  11,  1800,  came 
to  Worcester  in  1821,  bookseller,  stationer  and  publisher,  till  1852;  been 
since  engaged  in  the  insurance  business. 

Clarendon  Harris,  born  in  Dorchester,  Sept.  8,  1800,  (see  page  182)  ; 
bookseller  and  publisher  in  Worcester  from  1823  to  1844  ;  has  since  been 
secretary  of  the  State  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Solomon  Parsons,  farmer,  born  in  Worcester,  October,  1800,  on  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father,  (see  page  155.) 


Reminiscences  of  Worcester.  391 

Osgood  Bradley,  born  in  Andover,  Jan.  15,  1800;  came  to  Worcester  in 
1822,  and  started  a  carriage  manufactory  on  School  street ;  removed  to  Wash- 
ington Square  in  1835,  when  he  began  making  raih'oad  cars,  and  is  still  in 
the  business  with  his  sons  Henry  0.  &  Osgood  Bradley,  Jr. 

Aaron  B.  W.  Bullard,  born  in  Buckland,  April  21,  1800.  He  is  the  in- 
ventor of  the  celebrated  "  Bullard's  Oil  Soap,"  which  for  the  last  forty-five 
years  has  been  a  household  necessity  in  New  England. 

Nathaniel  C.  Moore,  farmer,  Salisbury  street,  born  October  ,  1800. 

AsAHEL  Fairbanks,  shoe-maker,  born  in  Athol,  May  6,  1800,  came  to 
Worcester  in  1855. 

Lewis  Holbrook,  farmer.  No.  12  Sever  street,  born  in  Grafton,  in  Oct., 
1800.     Came  here  in  1872. 

Rev.  William  H.  Sanford  was  born  in  Belchertown,  Feb.  14,  1800  ; 
graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1827,  in  the  class  with  Rev.  Dr.  Seth 
Sweetser,  President  Felton  of  Harvard  University  and  President  Stearns  of 
Amherst  College  ;  studied  theology  with  his  father-in-law.  Rev.  Ethan  Smith, 
at  Hanover,  N.  H.  ;  was  settled  pastor  over  the  old  church  at  Boylston  from 
1832  to  1857  ;  then  founded  the  firm  of  Sanford  &  Co.,  booksellers  and  sta- 
tioners, of  which  he  is  still  at  the  head,  with  his  sons. 

Amos  Stearns,  No.  21  Piedmont  street,  brush  manufacturer,  born  in 
Medford,  May  IG,  1801,  been  here  since  1833. 

Constant  Shepard,  No.  12  Crown  street,  collector,  born  in  Sharon,  Vt., 
Feb.  3,  1801,  been  here  thirty  years,  bill  collector,  and  still  at  it. 

Asa  Walker,  merchant  tailor,  3G5  Main  street,  was  born  in  Upton,  Jan. 
5,  1805,  (son  of  Ebenezer  AValker,)  and  came  to  Worcester  in  182G,  and 
learned  the  tailor's  trade  of  Albert  Brown,  (founder  of  the  present  firm  of 
W.  &  T.  Brown,  then  located  in  the  old  wooden  building  north  of  Dr. 
Green's  })rick  mansion  on  Main  street.)  Mr.  Walker  began  business  in 
the  wooden  structure  on  Front  street,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Theatre  building,  then  removed  to  the  Upham  block,  now  owned  by  John 
Goodwin,  on  Main  street,  opposite  the  Centre  Church,  and  then  to  Gov. 
Lincoln's  building  on  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  Thomas  streets.  He  has 
occupied  his  present  location  on  Main  street  for  thirty-five  years.  Among 
his  earliest  customers,  when  he  first  opened  on  Front  street,  was  Isaiah 
Thomas,  for  whom  he  made  a  pair  of  short  breeches. 

Tobias  Boland,  railroad  contractor,  born  in  Ireland  in  1805,  came  to  this 
country  in  182G,  residing  in  New  York  till  1832,  where  he  built  among  other 
enterprises  the  Third  Avenue  railroad  to  Harlem.  Afterwards  resided  in 
Baltimore,  Washington,  Mount  Vernon  and  Boston;  was  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  John  A.  Washington  and  George  Wo,shington  Parke  Custis. 
Came  to  Worcester  in  1834 ;  was  a  heavy  contractor  in  the  building  of 
portions  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester,  Boston  and  Providence,  Norwich  and 
Worcester,  and  Western  Railroads.  He  also  built  nearly  all  the  houses  on 
Temple  street,  and  some  on  other  streets,  and  was  a  principal  contributor  to 
the  buildino;  of  St.  John's  Church. 


Of  the  natives  of  Worcester,  now  resident  elsewhere,  the  oldest  is  William 
Trowbridge,  born  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather  in 
Trowbridgeville,  Oct.  15,  1790,  (see  pages  43  and  3G2,)  for  many  years  past 
residing  in  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin. 

The  next  oldest,  and  of  nearly  the  same  age  with  the  above,  is  Levi  Gates, 
son  of  Simon  Gates,  born  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfa- 
her,  at  the  head  of  Gates'  Lane,  near  New  W^orcester,  in  May,  17yO.  He 
was  one  of  Capt.  Samuel  Graves'  company  who  marched  to  Boston   in   Sep- 


392  Reminiscences  of  Worcester. 

terabei",  1814,  making  four  in  all  from  Worcester,  now  living,     lis  now  re- 
sides in  Washington  Territory. 

George  Bancroft,  the  most  distinguished  native  of  Worcester  resident 
elsewhere,  was  born  Oct.  3,  18U0,  in  the  ancient  dwelling  for  many  years 
past  owned  and  occupied  by  John  B.  Pratt  on  Salisbury  street,  where  Dr. 
Bancroft  then  lived. 

Gill  Valentine,  born  in  Hopkinton,  in  September,  1788,  for  many  years 
city  auditor,  surveyor,  &c.,  in  Worcester,  now  a  resident  of  Northborough, 
is  the  oldest  former  resident  of  Worcester  now  living. 

Thomas  Knight,  for  seventy  years  past  a  resident  of  the  far  west,  was 
born  in  1797  upon  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  Wm.  Knight,  which 
stood  upon  the  north  side  of  Clark  street,  long  since  torn  down.  He  is 
probably  one  of  the  numerous  descendants  of  Edward  Knight,  who  settled 
in  that  vicinity  at  the  first  organization  of  the  town  on  wdiat  lias  since  been 
known  as  the  John  F.  Clark  farm.  He  came  on  here  a  few  months 
ao-o,  for  the  first  time  since  he  went  west,  and  identified  the  site  of  his  fa- 
ther's old  homestead  which  he  had  left  seventy  years  before  when  a  lad  of 
ten  years. 


Descriftion  of  Frontispiece. 

The  frontispiece  represents  a  view  of  Worcester  in  183G,  looking  north 
from  a  point  near  tlie  middle  of  Franklin  Square.  The  first  building  on  the 
rio-ht  is  the  ancient  dwelling  of  Hon.  Charles  Allen,  built  in  1788  by  Col. 
Daniel  Clapp,  (see  page  29.)  Next  is  the  venerable  Old  South  Church,  and 
then  the  Town  Hall,  as  they  appeared  forty-one  years  ago.  The  old  "  Com- 
pound" building,  on  the  north  corner  of  Front  street,  is  hidden  by  the  old 
"  one  horse  shay"  unfortunately  just  at  that  time  passing  by.  The  repre- 
sentation of  the  old  United  States  Hotel  building,  next  north  with  its  swinging 
sign,  is  a  fine  one.  Farther  north  may  be  seen  the  continuation  of  Main 
street,  with  faint  views  of  the  old  "  Central  Exchange,"  "  Central  Hotel," 
and  other  structures  lost  in  the  distance. 

On  the  immediate  foreground  on  the  left  mny  be  seen  the  embankment 
built  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  which  long  since  became  a  thing 
of  the  past",  (the  last  bank  wall,  built  when  jNIain  street  there  Avas  cut  down 
and  widened  several  feet  in  1851:,  having  replaced  the  former  bank  wall  built 
early  in  the  present  century.)  Over  this  embankment  was  the  passage  way 
leadino-  to  what  was  called  "  Nobility  Hill,"  on  which  had  just  been  erected, 
■when  this  view  Avas  taken,  some  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  town.  First 
on  the  left  is  the  residence  of  Dr.  Joseph  Sargent,  built  in  1828  by  the  late 
Dea.  Benjamin  Butman  who  occupied  it  for  several  years.  Next  north  is  the 
venerable  historic  mansion  of  the  late  Judge  Ira  M.  Barton,  erected  about 
1752  by  Sheriff  Gardner  Chandler,  (see  page  21.)  Next  north  is  the  man- 
sion of  Hon.  Isaac  Davis,  then  just  built,  (removed  in  1873  to  Piedmont 
street,  when  the  present  brick  blocks  were  built  on  its  site.) 

In  the  rear,  a  little  south  of  the  latter,  is  the  ancient  residence,  a  century 
and  a  half  ago,  of  Rev.  Isaac  Burr,  (see  page  119,)  removed  to  Blackstone 
street  in  1841,  when  Levi  A.  Dowley  built  on  its  site  his  residence  afterwards 
owned  and  occupied  by  Ethan  Allen,  the  latter  structure  (now  occupied  by 
Dr.  F.  H.  Kelley)  being  removed  to  its  present  location  on  Main  street  in 
1854  to  give  way  to  brick  structures.  On  the  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant 
streets  is  seen  the  present  three-story  brick  structure  erected  in  3  835  by 
Levi  A.  Dowley  with  its  original  cap  roof.  Just  south  of  the  latter  is  the 
little  wooden  structure  where  John  Nazro,  John  Foxcroft  and  other  eminent 
merchants,  Avho  occupied  the  Burr  house,  kept  store  subsequently  to  1775. 


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